Team Leader - Regional Resilience

Mō te tūranga | About the role

• Lead and develop a high-performing team focused on regional resilience and natural hazard risk reduction.

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, iwi partners, and national agencies.

• Provide expert advice and executive-level briefings to senior management and governance boards.

• Support emergency management functions, including flood response coordination.

• Review and revise the regional resilience work programme to align with Council’s strategic direction and Long-Term Plan.

• Ensure integrated delivery of river and flood management outcomes.

• Set priorities through annual programme development aligned with business plans.

• Lead team performance reporting (financial and non-financial measures).

• Manage day-to-day work programme and ensure projects remain on track

• Oversee compliance with health and safety and risk management requirements.

• Contribute to Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities and enable partnerships with tangata whenua.

Mō te tangata | About you

• Experienced leader with a strategic mindset.

• Passionate about building resilience to natural hazards.

• Thrives in complex and challenging environments.

• Makes sound decisions under pressure.

• Collaborative approach to working with diverse stakeholders.

• Inspires and leads teams effectively.

• Maintains strong relationships internally and externally.

Mō ngā pūkenga | Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in natural hazards, science, resource management, planning, or a related field.

• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience.

• Proven people leadership experience.

• Full NZ driver’s licence.

• Excellent communication skills.

 Desirable:

• Master’s qualification in a related field.

• Project/programme management certification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2).

• Previous experience in local government.

Additional Strengths:

• Strong financial management skills.

• Strategic thinking ability.

• Familiarity with Te Ao Māori and Mātauranga Māori (highly valued).

Mō te tīma | About the team

• Work alongside experts dedicated to creating a healthy environment.

• Build a strong economy.

• Support vibrant communities for the Waikato region.

• Our team values collaboration.

• Our team values innovation.

• Our team upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities in everything we do.

Mō mātou | About us

• We work hard to care for the mighty Waikato, so current and future generations will benefit from a healthy environment, strong economy, and vibrant communities.

• Our mahi is as diverse as the region we care for and the people who share it. Our work helps look after our region's water, soil, air, geothermal areas and coasts - so we can all enjoy these precious resources for generations to come.

• Customers sit at the heart of everything we do, and all staff have an important role to play in the delivery of exceptional customer service. 

• If you’d like to understand more about what we do please click here The work we do | Waikato Regional Council.

• By partnering with iwi and working with many others in our communities, our collective kaitiakitanga will make the Waikato region even better.

• Together, we’ll create a sustainable future that will make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Mō te tuku tono | How to apply

• Applications will be reviewed as they come in, and this role will close on Sunday 25 January 2026.

• For a copy of the role description, please click here.

• If you have any questions about the role, please contact [email protected]

• Please click ‘apply’ and include your CV & cover letter as a pdf.

• Apply now!