• Champion data and information as strategic assets
• Work for a values-led organisation committed to environmental stewardship
• Enjoy flexible working and a culture of collaboration

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury

Waitaha - our Canterbury region - is like no other and we are proud to call it home. We have the privilege of working with Papatipu Rūnanga, stakeholders and our wider community to protect our environment, including water, land and air through regulation and planning. As a Regional Council we're responsible for flood protection, public transport, civil defence, and more.  

Together we're taking action to shape a thriving and resilient Canterbury, now and for future generations. Toitū te marae o Tāne, toitū te marae o Tangaroa, toitū te tangata | if the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive. 

Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role

This strategic leadership role champions the value of data overseeing three specialist digital functions: Geospatial services, Information management and Data services.

This role leads leaders and has responsibility for enterprise-level prioritisation, governance, and strategic alignment across multiple digital functions. It requires experience influencing at senior organisational levels and providing guidance to Team Leaders rather than delivering technical work directly.

Reporting to the General Manager Digital, you’ll translate strategy into coordinated plans, ensure delivery across functions, and put in place the governance that ensures our systems, services, and platforms are designed, integrated, and evolved in alignment with our digital strategy. You’ll lead three Team Leaders, foster collaboration, and ensure digital solutions support both operational delivery and long-term strategic outcomes.

Above all, you will be the organisation’s champion for data—advocating its strategic value, driving a culture of data-informed decision-making, and ensuring our data assets are leveraged to deliver insight, innovation, and impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and align data, geospatial, and information management teams
• Embed governance frameworks and practices
• Champion data-driven decision making and continuous improvement
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and drive strategic initiatives
• Integrate cultural and regulatory considerations into data, geospatial, and information management
• Support team capability development and foster innovation

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

Mōu │ About You

You’re a senior leader with a strong background in data and information governance, and/or geospatial, data and information systems, and/or information management. You bring a strategic mindset, a collaborative approach, and a passion for enabling better decisions through trusted data and information.

You’re a natural leader who thrives on empowering others to succeed. You love leading through others—bringing out the best in your teams by fostering trust, autonomy, and shared purpose. Your leadership style is rooted in genuine connection and a belief that collective achievement drives the greatest outcomes.

Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience  

• Over 10 years of senior leadership experience spanning multiple technical domains
• Demonstrated ability to lead other leaders and manage cross-functional teams to achieve strategic goals
• Deep expertise in data and information governance, including developing and implementing frameworks and platforms
• Strong familiarity with enterprise-level data and information environments, ensuring robust and scalable solutions

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 Sunday, 23 November.  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.

Hours of work – Permanent full-time position 40 hours per week - From time to time, as required, the role may require work outside of normal work hours for emergency and flood response and to represent Environment Canterbury at meetings and events with partners, other agencies, and the community.

Location - This position is predominantly based at 200 Tuam Street, Christchurch  

Salary - The indictive salary range for role is $118,848 to $146,812 per annum depending on skills and experience. The specific salary will be discussed at interview stage.

Me mahi tahi tātou - Together we can