Senior - Development Engineer

About the role:

As a senior member of our Development Engineering Team, you will provide technical leadership and expert engineering input across all asset types. You'll work closely with developers, consultants, and internal teams to assess, guide, and approve development proposals — ensuring infrastructure is future‑focused, compliant, and built to last.

You'll also act as a trusted advisor, representing Council in pre‑application meetings, supporting strategic growth planning, and ensuring all assets vested to Council meet our quality and service expectations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing senior technical leadership across development engineering activities
• Reviewing and assessing engineering aspects of resource consent applications
• Granting Engineering Approval and ensuring adherence to Council standards
• Supporting district growth planning through technical advice and capacity assessments
• Reviewing flood assessment designs and setting compliant finished floor levels
• Partnering with operational teams to ensure high‑quality asset delivery
• Building trusted relationships with developers, consultants, iwi, and internal stakeholders

About you:

You're an experienced civil or development engineer who enjoys working at the intersection of technical detail, stakeholder engagement, and community outcomes. You bring sound judgement, confidence in decision‑making, and the ability to balance quality, risk, and practicality.

You will ideally bring:

• A Bachelor of Engineering (Civil or Natural Resources) (or equivalent)
• 10+ years' experience in engineering design, review, or construction
• Strong knowledge of NZ engineering standards and legislation (e.g. NZS 4404, RMA)
• Experience with resource consents and development approvals
• Proven relationship‑building skills across diverse stakeholder groups
• A sharp eye for detail and a collaborative, solutions‑focused approach
• Local government experience (highly desirable)

What we offer

At Selwyn District Council, we're serious about supporting our people — professionally and personally.

• Flexible work options and genuine work‑life balance
• Life insurance and sick leave from day one
• Annual paid wellbeing and volunteer days
• Career coaching and development opportunities
• Three days paid leave over Christmas and New Year
• Two weeks paid partner's leave
• Ongoing KiwiSaver contributions during savings suspension
• Discounts with local and national businesses

About us:

Selwyn is one of the fastest-growing districts in New Zealand. We have a fantastic quality of life, great communities, and a thriving economy. Our Council works actively with residents to provide the services and facilities that help our communities to thrive and grow.

Our head office is based in Rolleston (only 25km from Christchurch), which offers an enviable family lifestyle, outstanding local facilities and an easy drive to the ski fields, rivers and hills that make up Canterbury's stunning landscape.

Our values are important to us and represent the way we work: · Be a good human · Be brave - Think differently · Better together- Make it happen for Selwyn.

We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with our Treaty partner to deliver on our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

We value the safety of our community - this role requires a satisfactory safety check including police vetting and for you to pass a drug and alcohol test.

We review applications as they're received — apply now and help shape Selwyn's future.

To apply for this job go to: https://sdcjobs.co.nz/Vacancies & enter ref code: 6891782. 

Applications close 24 May 2026