About Us

At Whangarei District Council, we are passionate about making our community a thriving and positive place to live and work. With strong development in our district and a diverse working environment, we value our community and our people. Join us and be part of an organization that truly makes a difference.

About the Role

We have an exciting, fixed-term opportunity to lead our RMA Approvals and Compliance team for a maternity leave contract, which will see you working with us until June 2026. In this role, you will provide leadership to a team of five, responsible for the RMA Compliance and post-approval function. You will ensure an effective and efficient monitoring, compliance, and enforcement service that meets legislative requirements and the needs of the community.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure our planning functions align with community needs.
• Proactively manage resource consent conditions in a structured and strategic way.
• Coordinate enforcement actions and prepare evidence for court.
• Offer guidance to the Resource Consents Planning team and Development Engineers on the applicability of conditions.
• Advise the District Plan team on the workability of rules and practical applications of the District Plan.
• Have an oversight of section 223c and section 224c applications and road naming applications.
• Foster a culture of issue resolution within the team, ensuring a coordinated response to complaints and enquiries.

To Be Successful in This Role, You Will Need:

• A tertiary qualification that supports in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Resource Management Act.
• In-depth knowledge understanding of local government processes.
• Knowledge of the District Plan process and relevant legislations.
• Strong skills in interpreting legislation and presenting evidence in court.
• The ability to interpret legislation and identify pragmatic application options.
• Effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• The ability to influence others through strong working relationships and clear, well-thought-out advice.
• A focus on leading and empowering a team, fostering a positive and proactive team culture.
• The ability to work methodically and efficiently, setting and meeting appropriate standards and deadlines.

Ready to Apply or Want to Know More?

At Whangarei District Council, we take our reputation as a lifestyle destination seriously and offer a range of flexible working and work/life balance options. If you are ready to make a difference in the community we serve, be challenged as a professional, and get more balance out of life, Apply Now and start your journey with us.

If you have any questions or would like a confidential discussion about the role, team, flexible working, salary, or any other topic, Amanda would love to chat! Please contact Amanda in our People and Capability team at (09) 430 4200 or 0800 932 463, or email Amanda.Starkie@wdc.govt.nz.