Senior Advisor Climate Change Adaptation

We’re looking for a focussed Senior Advisor to join our Climate Change team in a newly created role. This is a permanent, full-time role based in the Wellington region, with flexible working options.

About the role:

Climate change is a key area of strategic focus for Greater Wellington, so our advisors work in a supportive environment and cover a broad programme of work summarised in its two ten-point action plans – one organisational and one regional – collectively known as the Climate Emergency Response Programme.

Working as part of the Climate Change Team, the Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor Climate Change Adaptation will lead be Greater Wellington’s input into the Regional Adaptation Project, a collaborative effort being run via the Wellington Region Leadership Committee (WRLC). The position will provide technical and strategic advice on adaptation policies and methods to internal and external parties, including territorial authorities carrying out adaptation planning, in conjunction with other subject matter experts across Greater Wellington, building enduring relationships that assist with effective adaptation. 

The Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor Climate Change Adaptation will also ensure positive alignment of climate adaptation related research, policies, practice, and decision-making within the organisation and support internal adaptation processes to reduce the risks of climate change to Greater Wellington’s assets, operations and people. From time to time this may also require presenting at public meetings, Council meetings, internal and external steering groups, and to senior leadership.

Skills and experience required:

You will need to have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in climate change, environmental policy or a similar field 
• At least 3 years’ experience working on the development of public policy in any field 
• Sound understanding of climate science and risk; relevant international, central and local government policy; mitigation and adaptation related issues and adaptive planning techniques 
• Proven written and oral communication skills including the ability to communicate with senior management and councillors 
• Experience in establishing and maintaining stakeholder relationships 
• A personal ability to be curious, inquisitive and inspired by new challenges and ways of working. Adaptation is an emergent field of practice and so the successful applicant should display a willingness to develop their expertise, research, query and influence.   
  

Knowledge of Te Ao Māori or Mātauranga Māori would also be beneficial.

What we offer:

• Work to suit your life and whānau with our flexible working policy.
• We’ll encourage you to grow and prosper with a range of learning and development opportunities, internal secondments and career progression.
• Your wellbeing is our priority – we’ll provide medical and trauma insurance, support through our employee assistance programme or Manawa Ora providers, generous annual and sick leave, along with Tangihanga leave and support.
• We want you to have a sense of belonging, where you can reflect your personal and cultural identity in the way that you work.
• Social clubs, staff networks and a friendly and inclusive culture.
• Great working environments across our beautiful region.
  

Come help treasure and grow our rohe together

Our rohe and its lands, waterways, animals, plants and people can only grow stronger if they are nurtured.

To join our team is to step up and commit to playing an active part in this important mahi. That means restoring nature, connecting people and places, reducing environmental impacts, and helping this rohe and its people prosper.

We are committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support mana whenua as Kaitiaki. We’re also part of a collective movement alongside our community members whose hopes for the future of this region are just as high as your own.

Our efforts across environmental management, public transport, flood protection, regional parks and water supply are interconnected and integral to treasuring our rohe and growing our future.

How to apply:

Greater Wellington is proud to be a member of Diversity Works. We value diversity and are committed to an inclusive, flexible, and supportive workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and welcome the unique talent and experience you will bring to our team. 

We are passionate about ensuring our recruitment processes are fair and equitable. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs or adjustments that need to be made so we can offer a recruitment process that is more accessible to you.

Click on the Apply link to view the job description and to apply for the role with a cover letter and CV.

For further information, please contact Jake Roos, on 022 6871980 or jake.roos@gw.govt.nz.

Please note, phone enquiries will not be received between 25 December to 5 January inclusive. Any email queries will be responded to from 6 January.

Applications close: 5.00pm, Friday 17 January 2025.

The salary range for this position, inclusive of all benefits, is $101,754 to $152,631 with a midpoint of $127,192. Starting remuneration will depend on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

All applicants will be required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in New Zealand.

Agency applications won’t be considered at this time.