TEAM LEADER - LAND & COAST POLICY

Mō te tūranga | About the role

Two Team Leader opportunities are available within our Resource Management Policy function:

• Team Leader – Water Policy
• Team Leader – Land & Coast Policy

These roles lead teams responsible for developing, reviewing and delivering statutory resource management plans and environmental policy for either Water or Land/Coast across Waikato. You’ll provide both people and technical leadership, helping translate complex environmental issues into clear, robust and implementable policy and planning provisions

In either role, you will:

• Lead the planning, prioritisation and delivery of significant statutory policy and planning work.
• Provide direction and leadership to a team of policy professionals, building capability and maintaining a collaborative, high-performing team environment.
• Provide technical leadership across policy analysis, policy writing and statutory plan drafting, setting high standards for evidence and quality.
• Guide the team through complex policy challenges involving environmental, social, cultural and economic considerations.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders, Councillors and staff on significant policy matters.
• Build constructive relationships across the organisation and with tangata whenua, councils, government agencies and other stakeholders to support effective policy development.
• Contribute to the wider leadership of Resource Management Policy, including work programme planning, prioritisation and resource allocation.

Mō te tangata | About you

We’re looking for experienced policy leaders who can combine strong technical credibility with effective people leadership.

You’ll bring:

• Strong leadership skills and experience with coaching and developing others.
• Considerable experience working with complex resource management, environmental planning or statutory policy issues.
• Advanced policy development and writing skills, with the ability to critically review policy advice and statutory planning provisions.
• The confidence to work through ambiguity and competing priorities while maintaining focus on quality and delivery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to a range of audiences.
• Strong relationship management and influencing skills, including the ability to operate effectively in complex and politically sensitive environments.
• You’ll be comfortable exercising judgement and working with a high degree of autonomy, while recognising when issues need to be escalated. You’ll also understand how to bring together scientific evidence, legislative requirements, community expectations, tangata whenua interests and organisational priorities when navigating complex environmental policy issues.

Mō ngā pūkenga | Qualifications and experience

• A relevant degree in environmental planning, policy, law, environmental science, environmental management or a similar discipline.
• Significant senior-level experience in resource management, environmental planning or statutory policy development (10+ years).
• Advanced knowledge of statutory plans and policy drafting.
• Previous experience leading or supervising a team and coaching and mentoring others.
• A full New Zealand driver licence.

Mō te tīma | About the team

• Both positions sit within Resource Management Policy in our Science, Policy and Information directorate.
• The directorate leads the preparation, monitoring and review of strategies and policies for the region, drawing on high-quality science and information to support strategic thinking and policy advice.
• The roles provide an opportunity to lead either our Water Policy or Land & Coast Policy team, while working closely with the other Team Leader and the wider policy function.

Mō mātou | About us

• We work hard to care for the mighty Waikato, so current and future generations will benefit from a healthy environment, strong economy, and vibrant communities.
• Our mahi is as diverse as the region we care for and the people who share it. Our work helps look after our region's water, soil, air, geothermal areas and coasts - so we can all enjoy these precious resources for generations to come.
• Customers sit at the heart of everything we do, and all staff have an important role to play in the delivery of exceptional customer service.
• If you’d like to understand more about what we do please click here The work we do | Waikato Regional Council.
• By partnering with iwi and working with many others in our communities, our collective kaitiakitanga will make the Waikato region even better.
• Together, we’ll create a sustainable future that will make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Mō te tuku tono | How to apply

• Applications for both vacancies will be reviewed as they come in, and this role will close on Sunday 8 November 2026.
• For a copy of the role description, please click here.
• If you have any questions about the role, please contact human.resources@waikatoregion.govt.nz
• Please click ‘apply’ and include your CV & cover letter as a pdf. Please indicate your preference for either position or if you’d like to be considered for both.
• Apply now!