Context │ Kaupapa

We have a vacancy in our Climate Change and Community Resilience portfolio and seek a people leader who can balance their technical capability with seeing the bigger picture, grasping thorny issues and supporting your team to provide strategic advice that enables sound decision-making. This work is critical to the enhancement of the Canterbury region and its communities, and the bonus is the successful candidate gets to work with an amazing team to deliver on this important mahi.

About the Role | Kōrero mō te tūranga

In the context of a time of central government reform that will significantly alter how local government operates, including the Future for Local Government, 3 Waters and Resource Management reform, you will be charged with leading this group of talented individuals to understand complex information and develop advice to senior local government officials and councillors on key climate change and community resilience issues.

The team is involved in exciting work including, but not limited to:

• Climate action planning in collaboration with the community, including adaptation and mitigation of climate change effects
• Emissions profile and inventory work
• Organisational climate change policy development and risk reporting
• Climate change education and communications
• Development of a Canterbury Resilience Strategy
• Support development of a regional multi-agency plan to respond to an alpine fault earthquake (CDEM)
• Support development of an Emissions Trading Scheme strategy
• Support the review of the Regional Coastal Environment Plan
• Support development of a regional legacy land fill climate change risk assessment
• Support to the Climate Resilience programme (COVID recovery river projects) and Flood Recovery programme
• Support development of the River Management and Braided River Revival strategies
• Strategic and policy advice including responding to a variety of central government national directions

The team also holds responsibility for being the secretariat to the Canterbury Climate Change Working Group and provides support on key climate change and community resilience initiatives through engagement and advocacy with Ministers and central government agencies.

You'll take an organisational perspective and approach, collaborate both within and outside the organisation, and take ownership of leading and managing our people to deliver our work in an integrated, efficient, and coherent way. You will enjoy working with people and seeing the team and individuals grow and develop through building a strong team culture.

This is an opportunity to utilise and rapidly expand your skills, grow your experience and play your part in shaping the future for the Canterbury region.

About You │ Mōu

To be successful in the role, you will have:

• an awareness of the key strategic issues facing the Greater Christchurch sub-region, the Canterbury region, and the South Island from a climate change and community resilience perspective
• experience in the climate change and community resilience sector, with a particular focus on long term strategic planning
• the ability to bring a strong relationship focus to our work with papatipu rÅ«nanga and Te RÅ«nanga o Ngāi Tahu
• strong political nous and comfort operating in a political environment
• the ability to clearly and confidently communicate strategic advice to inform decision-making in a range of fora
• as an emerging or experienced people leader, evidence of successfully leading a team to achieve agreed deliverables in parallel with developing team culture and individual team members
• excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly when dealing with complex issues
• the ability to proactively engage, build and maintain networks across the organisation and with other stakeholders
• a team focus to all aspects of your work and embrace a positive team culture
• understanding of, and commitment to, honouring tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi combined with experience of incorporating te ao Māori perspectives within climate change and community resilience work programmes.

About Environment Canterbury │ Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha

Taking action together to shape a thriving and resilient Canterbury, now and for future generations - toitū te marae o Tāne, toitū te marae o Tangaroa, toitū te iwi o Tangaroa.

Environment Canterbury works with partners, stakeholders, and other agencies to protect the health of our environment to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all of us. When you join us, you'll be empowered to make a difference for the good of your community, while personally benefiting from the results of your work. For more information about us and the work that we do, please click .

The health, safety and wellbeing of our people is important and all roles at Environment Canterbury are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Any offer of employment from Environment Canterbury will be conditional upon you being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, and providing evidence of your vaccination status, to Environment Canterbury's satisfaction.

Benefits of working at Environment Canterbury │ Ngā hua o te Mahi I te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha

Based in the heart of the laneways and parks of a regenerating CBD, you will work in a purpose-built office within minutes of public transport options. Christchurch itself is ideally positioned for you to make the most of a mountains to the sea lifestyle, all within an hour of home. With opportunities to work flexibly, an inclusive, people-first culture, a competitive salary, ongoing professional development, internal opportunities to broaden and grow your career across the organisation, free income protection insurance and life insurance, discounted healthcare premiums, and free annual flu vaccinations, there's a lot on offer!

You will love our values-based team culture with a focus on wellbeing, wrapped into an environment that is hard working, supportive, friendly, and fun. If this sounds like you, join us to be part of a team in which you will thrive and grow. For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Jesse Burgess, Senior Strategy Manager at or by phone on 027 381 5102.

Please note that we are planning to conduct interviews for this role on the 12th and 13th of April 2022.