Environmental Compliance Officer- Rural

About the Opportunity:

The HBRC Compliance team actively promotes, monitors and investigates compliance with the RMA and associated regulations and takes appropriate action when required. The team has the capability to lead and supervise enforcement investigations and prepare and present expert evidence in the Environment Court. A key function of this team is on providing guidance, education and advice on compliance matters to our stakeholders, including the community, tangata whenua, resource consent holders, around the sustainable use of natural resources and regulatory compliance.

This diverse and interesting role is a shared role with Hastings District Council (HDC) and sits within the HBRC Rural Compliance team and HDC’s Compliance team. The HBRC Rural Compliance team is focused on watertakes, discharges of wastewater, civil works, forestry and production land use. Alongside this, the team is involved in implementing the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-F) 2020 and supporting the HBRC Pollution Hotline.

As an Environmental Compliance Officer, you will take responsibility for the monitoring of resource consents and permitted activities that have been issued by the Regional Council. This will have a strong forestry focus as a part of meeting both Councils’ areas of responsibility under the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) 2017. The role involves a significant field work component and includes following up with consent holders and reporting on outcomes. Occasionally the role will require you to carry through with the investigation of an offence and prepare documentation to support the necessary enforcement action to be taken. The role may also require you to be part of our after-hours on call response roster.

Training, mentoring and opportunities to pursue formal qualifications will be available to the successful applicant, supporting you to develop and grow your environmental management skill and experience. Recent graduates are encouraged to apply!

About you:

The ideal person for this role be able to work well in a team, have fantastic written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. You will have an understanding of the environmental issues affecting the Hawke’s Bay region and a proven ability to effectively deal with conflict. Relevant experience in resource management, forestry, farming or horticulture or a related field would be advantageous. A science based tertiary qualification and/or previous experience in the enforcement field is also desirable for this role.

Alongside this, you will have:

• A Relevant Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, Environmental Resource Management, Agriculture or other or equivalent tertiary qualification.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role/relevant industry
• An in depth knowledge of the Resource Management Act.
• Knowledge of forestry harvest and erosion and sediment control practice
• An excellent understanding of forest harvest practices and rehabilitation.
• An understanding of compliance processes within Local Government.
• Proven knowledge and experience in conflict management and resolution.

The salary range for this role is between $74,340 to $82,600 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Other benefits of working for our team include limited income protection and life insurance, subsidised eye tests and lenses, flu vaccinations, and other well-being initiatives. HBRC also has a strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a flexible and supportive working environment.

All applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

To view the job description please click here.

Please apply via Seek.

Applications close 10 October 2022

12 September 2022

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