Job Description

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 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

We are seeking an accomplished senior leader to join our Operations directorate to give practical effect to our Tiriti partnership with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu across our core services.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, this role will support and drive operational delivery to imbed Tiriti partnership commitments and expectations, ensuring kaupapa are intentionally planned, embedded and delivered across the Operations directorate. You will work closely with senior leaders to strengthen decision‑making, planning and delivery so that partnership is consistently reflected in how we operate, invest and engage.

Operating as a trusted advisor, you will bring deep expertise in te ao Māori, strong political acumen and sound operational judgement to influence outcomes in a complex and evolving environment. You will guide and support leaders to understand the context, implications and interdependencies of Tiriti‑based decisions, ensuring legislative obligations, Ngāi Tahu aspirations and organisational priorities are aligned.

A core part of the role is building and sustaining effective operational relationships with Papatipu Rūnanga and their environmental entities, enabling genuine collaboration, information sharing and opportunities for co‑design. Internally, you will provide visible leadership that champions our organisational commitment to becoming a Treaty partner of excellence and supports the organisation’s cultural capability journey.

As a people leader, you will lead, coach and develop a high‑performing team, growing capability and confidence across the Operations directorate to deliver partnership outcomes with integrity, consistency and excellence. Through your leadership, kaimahi will be supported to demonstrate what Tiriti partnership looks like in practice—every day, across the breadth of our work.

Mōu │ About You

We are looking for an experienced leader, who can lead a team to ensure that initiatives and commitments are put into action.    To be successful in this role you will bring:

• 8+ years’ experience providing advice, influence and engagement from the board to the Marae.
• Demonstrated experience applying business and management principles in strategic planning, resource allocation, change management, and bringing out the best in our people when working in new ways.
• A firm understanding of working within an organisation with a strong regulatory framework and kaupapa taiao / Māori resource management obligations.
• Expert knowledge of local and central government, ideally in an operational delivery capacity.
• Proven relationship building and communication skills at a senior level, with the ability to facilitate, resolve, influence and engage at all levels.
• Demonstrable experience working with hapū and iwi and/ or within Māori communities and an active commitment to upholding the values, tikanga, kawa of cultural practice and traditions as guided by mana whenua, Ngāi Tahu.  Ideally you will also bring strong knowledge of the Ngāi Tahu tribal context.
• Strong knowledge, competency and fluency in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga Māori.
• A deep understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (and its application in a public sector environment). 

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.

Ko ētahi atu kōrero | Additional Information

For a confidential kōrero about this role, or for more information contact Carl Church at Niche Recruitment

Carl Church - 021 166 6441 | carl.church@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Applications close on 20 February 2026. 

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.