• Grow your Forestry career by joining Environment Canterbury
• Work outdoors managing the protection of three Regional Parks and over 2800ha of forest
• Contribute to work that matters, within a strong team culture

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

Environment Canterbury manages three Regional Parks and over 2800ha of forest on the Waimakariri and Ashley Rakahuri Rivers, and at Takapō. The forests were initially established for flood protection and soil conservation and now host wider values. Our Regional Parks cater for a wide range of recreational activities while contributing to local biodiversity enhancement and management.

As the Forester, you will lead a two-person team accountable for managing Environment Canterbury’s Forests in an exciting time of growth, change and development. The core role requires implementation of the entire forest estate management, from planting through to harvest, whilst identifying, protecting, and enhancing wider forest values such as biodiversity, recreational areas and river protection. 

The Forester is also responsible for developing a long-term sustainable management plan which will be a key focus for this role. The desired outcome is to achieve maximum value through sustainable forest management which protects and enhances all river protection, biodiversity, amenity, and recreational values.

The Forester will lead management of the organisation’s Emissions Trading Scheme accounts, ensuring obligations are met and advising on opportunities such as organisational emissions offsetting and alternative revenue streams to support wider organisational goals.

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

Mōu │ About You

To be successful as the Forester you’ll be a strong communicator, someone that connects easily with the community, customers, members of your team, and other key stakeholders to strive for outcomes in sustainable forest management.  You’ll be a natural collaborator drawing people together, listening to their issues, and building trust, whilst influencing their view on improving environmental management. 

You will offer an awareness of national directions and other external influencers in relation to the management of forests and be able to translate research or academic knowledge with a practical application. Your knowledge of GIS, forest data management, biodiversity, budget/financial management, native afforestation, and the Emissions Trading Scheme will all add to your application.

This role is a blend of office and site locations, requiring confidence and physical capability to work in forests, on hill slopes, and around waterways. Site locations span from Kaikōura to Orari, so occasional long-distance travel will be part of the role.

Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience  

You’ll have:

• A bachelors degree in forestry science or equivalent
• Proven experience in specifications, job briefs, tenders and contract documents, preparation of policies and high-level and detailed plans, contract supervision in land or forest management, asset management, facilitating meeting or discussion groups
• Knowledge of GIS, forest data management, budget/financial management, native afforestation, and the Emissions Trading Scheme
• Experience in contract and contractor management.

A current valid driver's license is essential. Classes 2 & 4 are desirable but not essential.

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 email Erica Weblin at erica.weblin@ecan.govt.nz

Applications close on Sunday 22 February.  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