Senior Rural Advisor

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

Hawke's Bay Regional Council is seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Rural Advisor to join our Integrated Catchment Management team. In this critical role, you will be at the forefront of engaging with and connecting catchment groups and collectives.  This is an opportunity to play a crucial role in supporting our rural sectors through connecting individual landowners, catchment and community groups to information, networks to advance  sustainable land management practices. You will build strong relationships, foster collaboration, and facilitate solutions that balance environmental protection with economic viability in our agricultural and horticultural industries.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

As the Senior Rural Advisor, you will be a relationship manager, working directly with individual landowners, catchment groups, and communities. You will be a connector and facilitator, helping to address challenges and provide access to the right information, skills, and resources. This role is focused on driving positive outcomes for individuals, groups, communities, and the environment in the face of weather events and changing land use demands. You will design and facilitate workshops, events, and extension activities, effectively communicate complex scientific information, and support the development of administrative processes to track landowner requests and service delivery.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent tertiary qualification in sustainable land management or a related field
• At least 5 years of experience in providing technical advice to the primary sector
• A sound understanding of farming and growing systems, rural issues, social/economic factors in the primary sector
• Excellent written and verbal communication, project management, and conflict resolution skills
• Strong facilitation, leadership, and relationship-building abilities
• Proficiency in MS Office suite, database management, and analytical skills
• Sound judgement, initiative, and the ability to influence and support change
• The ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• A demonstrated awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and respect for Tikanga Māori

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a lasting impact on the environmental and economic sustainability of our region. If you are passionate about working collaboratively with rural communities and driving meaningful change, we want to hear from you.

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:

The salary range for this role is between $89,640 to $99,600 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. This is a high-performing and motivated team of professionals that you will be joining, offering an opportunity to experience working within local government and supporting the recovery work from Cyclone Gabrielle. Other benefits of working for our team include flexible working options to support work/life balance, and a strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a supportive working environment.

Other benefits of working for our team include:

• Flexible working options to support work/life balance
• 5 weeks annual leave after 3 years
• 4% superannuation after 3 years
• Life insurance and income protection
• Subsidised eye tests and lenses, flu vaccinations, and other well-being initiatives
• Strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a supportive working environment.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. We recognise that collaborative and innovative organisations depend on having a workforce made up from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. We're all about excellence, and we encourage open communication – if you need any specific support, just let us know! Our main goal is to empower each person to share their unique talents to contribute to the outcomes for our community. This commitment ensures that our workplace is a dynamic and progressive space where everyone can flourish.

HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

How to apply | I pēhea ki te whakauru:

Applications close on 17 May 2024, however we will be shortlisting and interviewing appropriate candidates as applications are received. If you are interested in this position, please do not wait to apply as we may close the ad earlier than advertised.

To view the job description please visit our website here.

Please apply through Seek . If you require any further information please email recruitment@hbrc.govt.nz.

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. 

9 May 2024

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