Principal Advisor

As New Zealand's environmental regulator, the work we do today helps shape the future of our tomorrow.

We are looking for a Principal Advisor to provide technical leadership to the EPA’s Land and Oceans Applications team as well as helping us embed the newly established Fast-track consenting regime. 

The purpose of the role is to focus on external stakeholder relationships, compliance, and provide specialist technical expertise to the team when required, ensuring that processes are maintained, and statutory requirements are met.

This role will be expected to support the Team Leader Regulatory Process and Manager Land and Oceans Applications as required.  

Our purpose | To tatou kaupapa 

We are the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Aotearoa New Zealand’s independent environmental regulator. Our role is important: to help protect our country’s unique way of life by looking out for the health of its environment, its economy and its people.  

Our kaupapa is about making the right decisions based on evidence, mātauranga, and science. At the EPA, we encourage big ideas and bold goals.  

What we achieve today helps shape the future of New Zealand for generations to come.  

Jump in the waka - make history with us. 

About our group | Mō te roopu 

We regulate activity across the climate, land & ocean environments to enable New Zealand to sustainably utilise its natural resources, protect its environment and meet its international obligations.  

We manage applications and decision-making processes and operate the register that allows carbon units to be traded. We ensure that obligations are met through our confident application of the legislative frameworks we operate under. 

We do all of this effectively, efficiently, fairly and transparently, in order to be a trusted independent regulator. 

About the role | Mō te tūnga  

• Focus on external stakeholders relationships 

• Develop and maintain high quality processes 

• Operate as a technical escalation point for the team 

• Monitor and identify area of improvement and training requirements 

• Monitor compliance and co-ordinate reporting requirements 

About you | Mōhou ake  

We are looking for someone with a range of skills and experience – if you have some or all of the below, we would love to hear from you. 

• Strong technical background in oil, gas, mining industries or resource management and extensive experience in a regulatory environment. 

• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks. 

• Knowledge of methods and techniques pertaining to risk assessment and management processes 

• Broad experience working with different stakeholders/users at all levels across government, the public and private sectors 

• Experience in technical or evaluative hearing, or court witness experience 

• Sound understanding and experience of budgeting and invoicing/financial management and records management 

• Well-developed organisational and planning skills 

• Proven problem-solving skills 

• Proven negotiation and conflict management skills 

• Strong ability to clearly convey complex or highly technical information 

What’s in it for you | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou 

There are extra benefits to working at the EPA: 

• flexible working culture 

• three additional leave days between Christmas and New Years in addition to four weeks’ annual leave 

• $400 non-taxable payment to help you set up working at home 

• an annual paid EPA Environment Day to support the community with environmental initiatives 

• in-house Māori cultural capability building programme  

• learning opportunities, including the annual EPA Symposium  

• active and lively social club, and diverse groups and support networks  

• EPA awards recognising individual and team effort 

• relocation help for those moving to New Zealand from overseas.  

Salary range 

$118,828 - $178,242 per annum (midpoint $148,535).  

This is the full salary range. Appointments will likely be made at or below the midpoint of this range, depending on skills and experience. An appointment at the midpoint assumes 100% competency in the role, with the full band covering a range of 80% - 120%. 

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono  

Complete the online application form and submit your CV and a covering letter.  

Please note: your covering letter is an important part of our assessment process. Please highlight how your experience relates to this role, and why you applied. Tell us about you, your values and/or whakapapa.  

View the Position description 

For more information, please contact recruit@epa.govt.nz or check out the careers section of our website www.epa.govt.nz/careers. 

We are open to supporting inter agency secondments. If possible, please discuss the prospect of joining us with your current manager, before submitting your application.