Selwyn District is one of Aotearoa's fastest‑growing regions and we're committed to ensuring our communities are well supported, prepared, and cared for when emergencies arise. We're looking for a passionate and capable Emergency Management Advisor - Local Welfare and Recovery Lead to join our Emergency Management team.

About the role:

This is a 20 hour per week role

In this specialist role, you'll be the key driver of welfare and recovery planning, coordination and delivery across the district. You'll work closely with welfare and recovery partners locally and regionally. You will also work closely with community organisations, and internal teams to make sure Selwyn is well‑prepared before, during and after emergencies.

Alongside the broader responsibilities of an Emergency Management Advisor, you will:

• Lead welfare and recovery planning and set district-wide priorities in these areas
• Coordinate welfare agencies and ensure the district has the capability to meet CDEM requirements
• Support communities during emergency events by leading welfare response activities
• Develop, test and review welfare and recovery-related plans, SOPs and frameworks
• Strengthen local community resilience through training and support of Community Response Teams, in collaboration with the EMA Community Resilience Lead
• Build trusted relationships with community groups, partner agencies and emergency services
• Support recovery planning and delivery following emergencies

This is a role where your work truly matters—your expertise helps protect and support people, whānau and communities across Selwyn.

About you:

We're looking for someone who is calm under pressure, relationship-focused, and committed to strong community outcomes. You will have:

Essential:

• Knowledge of CDEM legislation welfare and recovery arrangements in New Zealand
• Strong interpersonal, communication and problem‑solving skills
• An understanding of the role of community development within the Emergency Management ecosystem
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across multiple agencies
• Confidence working with diverse communities
• High computer literacy
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when required

Ideally:

• Experience in emergency management or community resilience
• Experience working with welfare agencies or volunteers
• Experience in pre and post event recovery planning and execution
• Training delivery or facilitation experience
• Tertiary qualification or relevant emergency management credentials (e.g., CIMS 4)

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.

We value the safety of our community - this role requires a satisfactory safety check including police vetting and for you to pass a drug and alcohol test.

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