At Environment Southland, we work with our communities to enhance Southland's environment and support a thriving Murihiku - now and into the future.

We are seeking a Governance Advisor (LGOIMA) to play a critical role in supporting openness, transparency and good governance across our organisation.

About the role

This is a key specialist role responsible for coordinating and managing Environment Southland's obligations under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) and the Privacy Act 2020.

You will work closely with staff, senior leaders and elected members to ensure official information and privacy requests are handled lawfully, consistently and within statutory timeframes. You'll also help build organisational capability by providing practical advice, guidance and education.

What you'll be doing

• Coordinate the end‑to‑end management of LGOIMA and Privacy Act requests
• Provide clear, practical advice to staff, leaders and elected members on information and privacy obligations
• Support high‑quality, defensible responses to often complex or sensitive requests
• Manage relationships with the Ombudsman, Privacy Commissioner and legal advisers
• Maintain and improve systems for tracking, reporting and proactive release of information
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities for continuous improvement in transparency and governance practice
• Contribute to a strong culture of integrity, trust and professionalism across the organisation

About you

We are looking for someone who can work independently and is confident operating in a complex public sector environment, bringing sound judgement, integrity and strong communication skills.

You will ideally have:

• Experience working with legislation (legal background and/or practical legislative experience)
• Experience in local government, central government or the wider public sector
• Strong writing, analysis and organisational skills
• The ability to manage multiple workstreams and statutory deadlines
• Political awareness and the confidence to work with senior leaders and elected members
• A commitment to confidentiality, professionalism and public trust

You're someone who likes to make things happen, builds positive working relationships, and takes pride in producing high‑quality, credible work.

Why join Environment Southland?

• A meaningful role that supports democratic accountability and public confidence
• A supportive and collaborative workplace culture
• Opportunities to build specialist expertise and professional capability
• Flexible working options and a strong focus on wellbeing
• The chance to make a real difference for Southland and its communities

Working at Environment Southland

We value diversity and are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We recognise our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support meaningful engagement with iwi and Māori across Murihiku.

All Environment Southland staff may have a role to play in civil defence or emergency response during an event.