Posted: 20/09/2024
Closing Date: 06/10/2024
Job Type: Permanent – Full Time
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Job Category: Biotech, R&D, Science,Environmental Services,Program & Project Management
Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury
Waitaha – our Canterbury region – is like no other and we are proud to call it home. We are privileged to be working with Ngā Papatipu Rūnanga, stakeholders, and our wider community to protect our environment, including water, land, and air through regulation and planning. As a Regional Council we’re responsible for flood protection, public transport, civil defence, and more.
Together we’re taking action to shape a thriving and resilient Canterbury, now and for future generations. Toitū te marae o Tāne, toitū te marae o Tangaroa, toitū te tangata, If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive.
Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role
The work of the Science Group at Environment Canterbury consists of providing: environmental monitoring and data; and research and advice to internal and external customers. Drawing from different science disciplines, the Science Group plays a key role in informing decision making across most of the organisation including informing organisational strategic intent, processing of consents, our approach to compliance, responding to incidents, the development of plans, and measuring our progress towards regional and national environmental targets.
Reporting to the Water and Land Science Manager, this newly created role will lead a team to provide research and advice on complex water management issues from a water quality perspective.
You’ll bring skills and experience in the following:
- Leading and elevating team capability to provide expert technical advice, and research-based insights.
- Developing and maintaining fit for purpose work programmes and resources to meet delivery targets and agreed programmes of work.
- Capability to design and lead research, critically assess research on groundwater and surface water quality within a Canterbury context.
- Procurement and management of contracts and contractors, including negotiation of services.
- Proven ability in forming and maintaining strong, collaborative working relationships.
- Establish connections and collaboration with Nga Rūnanga, in relation to environmental science, including data sovereignty.
- Leading, coaching, mentoring, and developing team members to create a high performing, engaged and values aligned team.
From time to time, as required, the role may require work outside of normal work hours for emergency and flood response and to represent Environment Canterbury at meetings and events with partners, other agencies, and the community.
Based in Christchurch, the indicative annual salary range is $114000-$126000 for a 40-hour week, Monday to Friday inclusive.
Mōu │ About You
As a technical leader of people you’ll juggle a hands on role, along with your people leaderships skills.
You’ll ideally bring skills and experience in the following:
- A MSc (preferred) or Bachelor of Science degree, in a water quality related field, together with technical experience in science water resource management work.
- Excellent freshwater quality experience, a high level of knowledge on methods used to investigate water quality issues (e.g. field studies, water chemistry interpretation, modelling etc.) including demonstrated experience in research-based advice, ideally in a public sector context.
- A strong understanding of water quality issues in Canterbury and involvement in leading water resources research projects
- Experience leading, coaching, mentoring, and developing team members, supporting them to be a high performing and engaged workforce.
- Experience in leading changing, inspiring innovative thinking, influencing behaviour change, and adoption of new ways of working, with a strongly collaborative style.
- Commitment to and an understanding of te ao Māori, awareness of the evolving obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, together with experience of applying this in a workplace setting, including the ability to lead work that requires engagement with iwi.
- Understanding of the Resource Management Act requirements in relation to water resources including obligations on Regional Councils.
- Membership and active participation in industry networks and special interest groups related to water quality science (groundwater and surface water).
- Demonstrated relationships with science end users, with proven ability to identify end user needs, effectively support the commissioning process and design work programmes to meet needs within budget.
Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Working at Environment Canterbury
Our values underpin everything we 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.
For a confidential chat about this role, please contact Elaine Moriarty on 02720005214
Applications close on 6 October 2024. We encourage you to apply early, we will be reviewing applications as we receive them and reserve the right to close the 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.
Me mahi tahi tātou – Together we can