Senior Investigator

Te Whakapakari Tahi I Tō tātau Taiao – Enhancing our environment together.

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

Are you looking for a great opportunity to be at the forefront of environmental protection? As a Senior Investigator with our Pollution Response and Enforcement team, you will be taking a leading role for ensuring that an appropriate level of enforcement is undertaken by Council and that any enforcement activities are robust, defensible and effective.

You will use your investigative skills and legislative understanding of the Resource Management Act, National Environmental Standards and regional rules to ensure great outcomes for our local environment.

You will have opportunities to engage with internal and external stakeholders to promote responsible resource use and regulatory compliance. The role is responsible for undertaking and managing investigations to support potential enforcement action. Alongside this, there is a requirement to be rostered on as part of the Councils after hours pollution response service.

The key objectives of the role are:

• The management and oversight of enforcement cases.
• Investigation into serious breaches of the legislation.
• To ensure investigations and evidence collection is maintained to a high standard and is compliant with the Evidence Act 2006.
• Initiate and undertake enforcement proceedings.
• Provide support to other operational staff throughout the council who may administer other legislation and take a leading role in any enforcement action if required.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

The ideal person for this role must be able to manage and deliver in an environment that could be high pressure and rapidly changing. You 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.

A detailed understanding of the legislative framework that supports Councils regulatory function and an ability to keep up to date with changes is desirable.

Alongside this, you will have:

• Experience in managing complex investigations and their subsequent prosecution through defended hearing process.
• Ability in coordination of multiple cases simultaneously and able to interpret legislation, legal opinions and case law.
• Experience in supporting, mentoring and developing other staff.
• Experience in scene examination including gathering of evidence and exhibits and management of these to a high standard and is compliant with the Evidence Act.
• Knowledge of the Resource Management Act 1991 and associated regulations (including National Environmental Standards and Maritime Transport Act) would be desirable in this role. 

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu

The salary range for this role will be dependant on your level of qualification and experience. 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.

How to apply | I pēhea ki te whakauru:

Applications close 1 August 2023 but interviews may be held prior to job closing if the right person is found.

View the job description here.

Please apply via Seek.

About us | E pā ki a mātou:

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Te kounga o te wai, te haumarutanga me te mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi o te whakamarutanga | Water quality, safety and climate-resilient security.  

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua | Climate-smart and sustainable land use. 

Kia ora, kia āhei, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki te rerenga rauropi | Healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity. 

Kia toitū, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki ngā ratonga me ngā hanganga ā-whare | Sustainable and climate-resilient services and infrastructure. 

4 July 2023

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