Sustainability Officer

Join us at New Plymouth District Council!

Tūhono mai ki Te Kaunihera-ā-Rohe o Ngāmotu!

Who are we? - Ko wai mātou?

Te Kaunihera-ā-rohe o Ngāmotu - New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) is dedicated to serving our community and enhancing the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit here.

We are guided by the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and are committed to fostering partnerships that respect and celebrate our district's rich cultural heritage.

Through innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, we aim to deliver exceptional services and initiatives that support our vision of building a thriving, connected, and future-focused district.

At Te Kaunihera-ā-rohe o Ngāmotu, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and dynamic organisation that values people, creativity, and progress.

The opportunity - Te āheinga

Are you passionate about creating a sustainable future for our community?

Join us as a Sustainability Officer and play a key role in driving positive environmental change across the district. In this permanent, full-time position, you'll design, implement and manage innovative sustainability programmes that align with Council plans and legislative requirements.

This is a dynamic role where you'll lead behaviour change campaigns, manage contractors and contracts, and promote NPDC's sustainability services. You'll bring the technical expertise to drive waste minimisation outcomes and may also play a role in sustainable transport, climate adaptation and other sustainability initiatives.

From developing educational resources and delivering workshops to managing funding grants and reporting outcomes, you'll use a Think, Plan, Deliver, Review approach to make a measurable impact.

If you're ready to influence how our community thinks about sustainability and help shape a greener future, this is your chance to make a difference.

Key responsibilities - Ngā haepapa matua

• Develop and deliver sustainability programmes for the community as specified in Council plans, legislative requirements and Council priorities (for example, WMMP, emissions reduction plan, sustainable transport plans, Council bylaws)
• Manage contractors delivering sustainability programmes in the wider community, workplaces and schools
• Plan and execute sustainability behaviour change campaigns tailored to the wider community and specific groups
• Support and promote NPDC services and infrastructure through behaviour change programmes
• Monitor and evaluate sustainability initiatives and support reporting outcomes to Council and partners
• Monitor and manage contestable funding grants
• Support and organise relevant outreach events
• Develop and compile educational materials related to sustainability and conduct workshops, seminars and webinars to build community capacity and awareness
• Ensure legislative requirements and Council policies and procedures are fulfilled, particularly in relation to relevant legislation

Essential skills and experience - Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako

• Tertiary qualification in behaviour change, sociology, psychology or environmental management
• Proven experience implementing behaviour change initiatives
• Proven ability to create, implement and deliver work programmes
• Experience evaluating and analysing programme effectiveness
• Experience engaging with a cross section of external stakeholders, including mana whenua
• Highly effective written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Experience in project management or strategy development
• Experience reporting to Council and stakeholders

Why Taranaki? - He aha ngā hua o te rohe nei?

Taranaki is a region like no other, offering a balance of career opportunities and lifestyle. Nestled between the stunning Mounga Taranaki and the sparkling Tasman Sea, it offers world-class hiking trails, pristine surf beaches, and a vibrant arts and culture scene.

The region boasts affordable living, excellent schools, and a strong sense of community, making it an ideal place to live, work and raise a family. Whether you're seeking adventure, tranquillity or both, Taranaki offers an exceptional quality of life.

What we offer - Ngā ratonga

At New Plymouth District Council, we aim to create and sustain a rewarding workplace environment for our staff.

This includes:

• Solid career pathways
• Learning and development opportunities
• Personal and professional growth
• Our Peoples Package across wellbeing, development, benefits, culture and recognition

You can expect to start in this permanent, full-time role with a salary between $95,908 and $103,366.

Why join us? - Ngā hua o tō hono mai?

We value the wellbeing of our team and provide an inclusive workplace that recognises and rewards your contributions. Together, we're building a better New Plymouth, one step at a time.

Applications close Wednesday, 14 January 2026.

Be part of a council that values people, culture and opportunity.

Me tūhono mai koe kia tautoko i te Ngāmotu o āpōpō!

Te Kaunihera-ā-rohe o Ngāmotu is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, please let us know at the time of application so we can assist you through the recruitment process.