Love where you work. Love where you live.

Join Environment Southland and help shape the future of our region.

Meaningful and impactful work

• Supportive and collaborative culture
• Work-life balance that matters
• Affordable living and short commutes
• Incredible outdoor lifestyle on your doorstep

In partnership with our community, Environment Southland (Southland Regional Council) is responsible for the sustainable management of Southland's natural resources - our land, our water, our air and our coast. As a Regional Council we operate across a large geographical region which extends from Stewart Island to Fiordland.

This newly created position contributes to the overall performance of the Regional Programmes Team by leading the delivery and transition of the Learning from the Land programme and other complex strategic land initiatives.

About the role:

The role provides programme management, integration, engagement and decision support across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring agreed processes, pilots and land-use decisions are progressed from concept through to implementation. If you have over 5 years of experience in programme or project management, strategic land or property, environmental management, infrastructure or a related field then this exciting opportunity could be right for you.

Your key responsbilities:

• Proactively manage Environment Southland's strategic property portfolio through a forward programme of lease, land-use, flood risk management, asset maintenance and management, and investment decisions.
• Ensure the timing of future investment decisions are clearly identified, consulted upon across internal staff and leaseholders, and using the Learning from the Land framework shaped into governance ready investment decisions.
• Leading the implementation of the Learning from the Land programme, including the Titiroa pilot, and applying the established framework and processes to subsequent priority land.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary input across property, land management, freshwater farm plans, environmental science, policy, finance, legal and operational functions to develop integrated and practical recommendations for both current and future land use scenarios.
• Working in partnership with mana whenua and engaging effectively with lessees, landowners, community organisations and other delivery partners.
• Preparing decision material and governance reporting, maintaining momentum across multiple concurrent workstreams, and ensuring actions, risks, dependencies and lessons are actively managed.

What we are looking for:

• Demonstrated experience delivering complex programmes or projects from design through implementation together with a relevant tertiary qualification in programme or project management, planning, property, environmental management, business or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams and coordinate multidisciplinary teams across organisational boundaries plus strong analytical, options-assessment and decision-support skills, including the ability to work constructively with incomplete or contested information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing papers and presenting recommendations to senior leaders or governance groups.
• Experience working in partnership with mana whenua and planning engagement appropriate to Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities and the Murihiku context.
• Understanding of property, leases, rural land management or farm systems is desirable; experience in local government, environmental management or regulatory settings would also be advantageous.
• Full current driver's licence.

Are you ready for your next challenge?

How to apply

To download the PD, and to apply for this role go to: https://environmentsouthland.recruitmenthub.co.nz/Vacancies/& enter ref code: 6925073 to apply and upload your CV and cover letter.

Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role.

We have a lifestyle that is second to none, with easy access to beaches, rivers, lakes, ski fields, national parks and first-class sports facilities. We pride ourselves on the support we give our team to ensure a good work‑life balance is a priority. And with affordable real estate, short commutes and a great range of schools on offer there is something here for everyone!

The salary for this position will be in the region of $115,000 but will be set dependent upon experience.

Applications close: 13 September 2026