About the role
We're looking for a Principal Advisor to join our Regulatory team, a role that combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery.

You'll lead the review of bylaws and policies, provide expert advice, and help drive processes and frameworks that enable effective regulatory stewardship across multiple pieces of legislation.

In this role, you will:

• Lead bylaw and policy reviews - ensuring they are practical, enforceable, and meet community needs.
• Provide strategic and technical advice on regulatory frameworks, legislative changes, and emerging issues.
• Prepare high-quality reports, briefing papers, and presentations for Council committees and senior leadership.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, elected members, and external stakeholders.
• Support investigations and enforcement action by providing expert advice on compliance processes, evidence gathering, and decision-making frameworks.
• Collaborate across Council during plan changes with Policy and Resource Consents teams to ensure regulatory considerations are integrated.
• Drive the delivery of processes and frameworks that support the team to deliver consistent, effective regulatory functions.
• From time to time, take on additional duties to support the wider Development and Growth team.

Why you'll love working here:

• Impact that matters: Shape bylaws and policies that make a real difference in our community.
• Variety and challenge: From strategic advice to enforcement support, no two days are the same.
• Flexibility and growth: Enjoy flexible working options and professional development opportunities.
• Supportive culture: Join a collaborative team that values innovation and expertise.

If you're ready to take on a role that combines leadership, strategy, and delivery, we'd love to hear from you.

About you

• A tertiary qualification in Policy, Regulatory Compliance, Law, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience in policy development, bylaw review, and ideally some exposure to investigations or compliance processes.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, you'll prepare clear reports and communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to manage complex projects.
• Business-analyst minded, with strong ability to extract, interpret, and leverage data to lead meaningful conversations and drive evidence-based decision-making.

What we can offer

• Great work-life balance with flexibility
• Career coaching and development
• Life insurance
• Wellbeing and volunteer leave
• Three days paid leave between Christmas and New Year
• Two weeks paid Partners Leave
• Sick leave from day one
• Continued KiwiSaver contributions during savings suspension
• Discounts with local and national businesses

About us

Selwyn is one of the fastest-growing districts in New Zealand. We have a fantastic quality of life, great communities, and a thriving economy. Our Council works actively with residents to provide the services and facilities that help our communities to thrive and grow.

Our head office is based in Rolleston (only 25km from Christchurch), which offers an enviable family lifestyle, outstanding local facilities and an easy drive to the ski fields, rivers and hills that make up Canterbury's stunning landscape.

Our values are important to us and represent the way we work: · Be a good human · Be brave - Think differently · Better together- Make it happen for Selwyn.

We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with our Treaty partner to deliver on our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

If you'd like to play a part in making Selwyn the best place to live, work and play, join us today!

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the close date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad before the advertised close date.