• Bring your legal expertise to a meaningful in-house role
• Join a high-performing, supportive team
• Contribute to a stronger People, Safety and Wellbeing function

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury

As a regional council, we’re responsible for managing natural resources like air, water, and land across the Waitaha Canterbury region. We work in genuine partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment for current and future generations.

Our region is changing, and so are we. Whether it's environmental shifts, regulatory reforms, or the evolving needs of our people and communities, we’re committed to adapting and responding with integrity, collaboration, and purpose.

Our mahi (work) centres on delivering three core services:

• Environmental Regulation and Protection
• Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards
• Public Transport

Kōrero mō te tūranga │ About the Role

We’re looking for a skilled and values-driven Employment Relations Specialist to join our People, Safety and Wellbeing team.

This newly created role brings employment law expertise in-house for the first time at Environment Canterbury. It’s an exciting opportunity to help shape how we approach employment matters—ensuring that our processes and decisions are legally sound, consistent, and grounded in our organisational values.

You’ll provide advice and guidance across a range of employment matters, from complex issues through to everyday coaching. You’ll also help build capability across the organisation—supporting people leaders, creating tools and frameworks, and contributing to positive, proactive employment practice.

You’ll be joining a smart, supportive, and genuinely collaborative team that’s passionate about doing great work—and doing it well, together.

Mōu │ About You

You're someone who can bring clarity and calm to complex employment matters. You're confident navigating legal frameworks, but just as focused on relationships, fairness, and doing the right thing. You enjoy working closely with others, sharing your knowledge, and finding practical, thoughtful solutions. Most of all, you believe in people—and you understand how legally sound decisions, made through a values lens, benefit everyone.

Mātau ā-Wheako │ Experience

To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally bring:

• A New Zealand Law degree and current (or eligible) practising certificate
• 6+ years of post-admission experience in employment law
• Experience working in-house or in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment
• Confidence to lead and guide others through employment processes, including change, performance, investigations, and disputes
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with a strong sense of judgment and ethics
• An understanding of, or genuine commitment to developing in, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and working in partnership with mana whenua

Ngā hua o te mahi i te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ Working at Environment Canterbury

Our mahi is grounded in our organisational values:

• Kaitiakitanga (Stewardship)
• Pononga (Integrity)
• Manaakitanga (People First)
• Whanaungatanga (Collaboration)
• Māiatanga (Can Do)

As part of the People, Safety and Wellbeing team, you’ll enjoy working in a high-trust, values-led environment where we support one another and enjoy what we do. We embrace diversity in all its forms and actively support our people to develop capability in te ao Māori. We’re on a journey to become a Treaty partner of excellence—and we welcome you wherever you are on that journey too.

Ko ētahi atu kōrero │ Additional Information           

For a confidential chat about this role, please contact Roz Grant on 027 301 4802

Applications close on Sunday, 6 July.  Applications will be reviewed as we receive them, and interviews may take place before the close date. We reserve the right to close advertising early.    

Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks, and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role.   

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. 

• Support for annual practising certificate and external mentoring
• Flexible work arrangements and wellbeing support

Me mahi tahi tātou – Together we can.