Principal Compliance Advisor

• Lead development of programmes to deliver on strategic priorities and manage risk
• Empower and support a high-performing team
• Full-Time Permanent | Central City location

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury

As a regional council, we are responsible for managing natural resources including air, soil, water and land. We work in partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our region.

The region's evolving environmental and political context means we will continue to be agile and adaptive, as we respond to regulatory and environmental changes.

Our mahi (work) is organised around the delivery of our three core services:

• Environmental Regulation and Protection
• Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards
• Public Transport

Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role

Our compliance service works with resource users to help them to comply.

As Principal Compliance Advisor you'll be part of the Regulatory Intelligence Team which oversees development of risk-based regulatory work programmes. You'll be an exceptional technical leader filling a critical technical role in our Compliance Section. Working with our Compliance leadership team and Senior leaders across the organisation, this role helps shape our prioritisation of regulatory initiatives to support delivery of environmental outcomes across the Waitaha/Canterbury region.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the creation, design and development of regulatory work programmes
• Lead the development and alignment of operational plans, work programmes, and budgets
• Provide specialist technical expertise to the Compliance section
• Contribute to the improvement of compliance processes and practices

For more information on this role, please refer to the job description at the bottom of the advert.

Mōu │ About You

You'll be a team player and people person who is passionate about leading, developing and engaging people while maintaining standards and ensuring consistency of services.  Partnership and collaboration come easily to you and you operate with integrity and respect.

Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience

Ideally you'll have a bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g. Science, Environmental Management, Environmental Policy, Natural Resources etc) or other qualification with experience outlined below.

More about you:

• A minimum of 10 years' relevant experience in the public or private sector
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing projects, resources and budgets including contract and contractor management
• Demonstrated strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills and problem-solving abilities are essential
• Demonstrated experience in risk analysis, and the design and implementation of risk and evaluation systems
• Extensive experience in engaging a wide variety of people and group facilitation to deliver integrated strategic priorities
• Strong business acumen and appreciation of local government and democratic/public processes, including practical experience working within statutory frameworks

If you're excited about this opportunity but you feel your experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage your application.

Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Working at Environment Canterbury

Our mahi is underpinned by our values:

• Kaitiakitanga (stewardship)
• Pononga (integrity)
• Manaakitanga (people first)
• Whanaungatanga (collaboration)
• Māiatanga (can do)

We understand and embrace a diverse workforce; this diversity will enable us to better serve our people, our community, and our greatest taonga, the environment. We value everyone's contribution, diverse thinking, and skills.

We're on a journey to become a treaty partner of excellence, including incorporating te ao Māori into our work. We offer supportive opportunities to develop capability in this area and encourage our people to use kaupapa Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori in our daily work. We welcome you with an open heart & mind, wherever you are on your personal te ao Māori journey

Ko ētahi atu kōrero | Additional Information

For a confidential chat about this role, please contact Paul Hopwood on

Applications close on Sunday 16 November.  Applications will be reviewed as we receive them, and interviews may take place before the close date. We reserve the right to close advertising early.

Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks, and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role.

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.

Me mahi tahi tātou - Together we can

Job Description