• Champion navigation safety
• Build strong, valued partnerships with community and iwi
• Lead, coach and mentor a dedicated group of maritime specialists

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury

As a regional council, we are responsible for managing natural resources including air, soil, water and land. We work in partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our region.

The region’s evolving environmental and political context means we will continue to be agile and adaptive, as we respond to regulatory and environmental changes.

Our mahi (work) is organised around the delivery of our 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 an inspiring people leader to take the helm of Canterbury’s navigation safety responsibilities – from inland waters to the open sea – under the Maritime Transport Act and other key legislation. 

This is a rare opportunity to combine leadership, strategy, and community impact, in a role where you’ll lead with purpose, grow with your team, and make a lasting difference to the future of our waterways.

• Lead navigation safety responsibilities – oversee the Council’s coastal and inland water navigation safety functions, including bylaws and compliance with key legislation.
• Champion safety programmes – provide regional leadership for hazard management, boating safety initiatives, and ISO 9001 safety systems.
• Inspire and grow your team – lead, coach, and mentor staff to build a high-performing, engaged, and capable workforce.
• Represent and respond – support public decision-making, engage with stakeholders and iwi, and act as spokesperson when required.

For more information on this role, please refer to the job description at the bottom of the advert.

Mōu │ About You

We’re looking for an experienced and dynamic leader who’s as comfortable out on the water as they are in the boardroom. You’ll be someone who thrives on collaboration, builds trust with diverse stakeholders, and inspires confidence in your team. With a mix of strategic vision and practical know-how, you’ll navigate complex challenges, balance competing priorities, and keep community safety at the heart of everything you do. Most importantly, you’ll be motivated by protecting and enhancing Canterbury’s waterways for generations to come.

• Proven leadership skills – able to mentor, coach, and empower a specialist team to deliver at a high level.
• Relationship focused – confident working with iwi, community stakeholders, and commercial operators, as well as being an excellent communicator – capable of representing the Council as a trusted voice on navigation safety matters.
• Proven ability to articulate and deliver maritime services and appropriately manage risks to enable community aspirations while keeping people safe.
• Hold Foreign-going Masters certification or other recognised equivalent
• Committed to the understanding of te ao Māori, awareness of the evolving obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, together with experience of applying this in a workplace setting.

Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience  

You will bring significant maritime expertise, with at least seven years’ experience in maritime and coastal implementation of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (or equivalent), along with a minimum of five years in a Harbourmaster, Deputy Harbourmaster, or similar role. This depth of experience will ensure you can confidently oversee the region’s navigation safety and maritime responsibilities.

Alongside your maritime background, you will also have a proven track record in leadership and management, with at least five years’ experience in business and operational practices such as planning, resource allocation, and coordinating people, projects, and resources. Experience with ISO or equivalent management systems is essential, as is a minimum of five years’ experience in emergency response, incident control, or maritime command.

Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Working at Environment Canterbury  

Our mahi is underpinned by our values:

• Kaitiakitanga (stewardship)
• Pononga (integrity)
• Manaakitanga (people first)
• Whanaungatanga (collaboration)
• Māiatanga (can do)

We understand and embrace a diverse workforce; this diversity will enable us to better serve our people, our community, and our greatest taonga, the environment. We value everyone’s contribution, diverse thinking, and skills.

We're on a journey to become a treaty partner of excellence, including incorporating te ao Māori into our work. We offer supportive opportunities to develop capability in this area and encourage our people to use kaupapa Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori in our daily work. We welcome you with an open heart & mind, wherever you are on your personal te ao Māori journey.

Ko ētahi atu kōrero | Additional Information

Applications close on Wednesday 24 September 2025.  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.

Me mahi tahi tātou - Together we can