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

You will be joining our Youth Engagement, Education, and Enviroschools Team. A significant part of this role is facilitating the network of Enviroschools in Ōtautahi Christchurch. You will support schools on their sustainability journey by guiding, motivating, and advising teachers and students as they take next steps towards creating sustainable, resilient, and thriving school communities. You will also contribute to the wider Enviroschools network and vision, in partnership with Toimata Foundation.

Alongside this, the role also involves:

• Youth education – delivering programmes as required that connect tamariki and rangatahi with Environment Canterbury’s mahi and supporting teachers and school leaders with professional development.
• Youth engagement – championing youth voice by creating opportunities for young people to participate in regional initiatives and decision-making, and by sharing their perspectives.

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

Mōu │ About You

This role will support kaiako, school leaders, and community partners to strengthen their practice and empower tamariki and rangatahi. You’ll be confident leading professional development, building strong relationships, and creating the conditions for others to thrive. With an inclusive, collaborative style, you bring people together, ease the load for teachers, and help amplify youth voices.

Your connection to the Enviroschools kaupapa and Education for Sustainability will be evident in your mahi. As a reflective, creative practitioner, you are open to learning and committed to modelling the change we hope to see.

 Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience  

You’ll be tertiary qualified in a relevant field, and ideally bring:

• Confidence facilitating adult learning and professional development
• Experience working with teachers and/or delivering education within a school setting (teacher training is desirable)
• Skills in engaging and empowering young people, in and beyond the classroom
• Knowledge and expertise in environmental sustainability, Te Ao Māori, and the natural world
• Strong organisational skills including event management, administration, and digital tools
• The ability to work independently while contributing to a supportive local and national team

Your commitment to understanding and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and championing matauranga Māori will be highly valued.

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

For a confidential chat about this role, please contact Riki Welsh 0272695166.

Applications close on Wednesday 5 November 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