• Opportunity for a credible and agile strategy/policy practitioner
• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• Flexible start/finish hours + WFH options + ability to purchase leave

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

We’re seeking applications for a Senior Strategy Advisor to join our Strategic Policy Team and shape our region’s future at a time of significant and complex government reform. This is an opportunity for you to contribute to meaningful work that benefits our region, environment and people. This role supports the executive leadership team and Council with strategic insights, analysis and policy advice to deliver better outcomes for our communities and the natural environment.

Key accountabilities:

• Lead the development of high quality strategic and policy advice for Council
• Systematically monitor & evaluate progress towards strategic outcomes
• Collaborate with our partners, stakeholders, government agencies and iwi
• Develop & maintain strong, collaborative working relationships

We’re looking for an experienced strategy advisor who is proactive, adaptable, and ready to provide high-quality advice to senior leaders and Council. You’ll have a strong ability to analyse complex situations and offer innovative solutions that align with our strategic goals. You’ll be comfortable navigating change and have a good radar for operating in a political environment.

• Strong policy background in the public sector, with excellent relationship management skills
• Excellent written and verbal skills with the ability to communicate complex issues and concepts concisely and with influence to a range of audiences
• Aptitude for critical thinking and strong analytical ability
• Ability to manage a varied workload, work at pace, and deal with ambiguity

You’ll have a relevant university qualification supported by a post graduate qualification or other relevant experience along with:

• At least five years relevant experience, ideally some within the public sector
  • Experience in environmental policy and strategy development
  • Knowledge of the resource management system
• Strong quantitative & qualitative analytical skills & problem-solving abilities

Our mahi is underpinned by our values:

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.

Applications close on Sunday, 10 August. 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.

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.