Team Leader Planning - Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management

Published: 19 March 2026

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:

Following Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay has committed to fundamental change in how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Communities, mana whenua, councils, and partners rightly expect a system that works when it matters most. 

With our community at the heart of our civil defence system, our mission is to build strong connections, empower local voices, and enhance collaboration across the region to create a safe, informed, and resilient Hawke’s Bay that is prepared for, responds to, and recovers from emergencies and disasters well. 

Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management operates as a shared regional service on behalf of the region’s councils. We take a strategic, evidence-led approach to resilience that focuses on where effort will have the greatest impact, particularly for communities, sectors, and systems that are most at risk. 

We are looking for a Team Leader - Planning to join the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (HB CDEM) team. This role is responsible for coordinating regional emergency management planning across Hawke’s Bay, ensuring all plans are risk-informed, community-driven, and aligned with national frameworks such as the National Disaster Resilience Strategy. You will oversee the development and integration of the Group Plan, hazard-specific and consequence-based contingency plans, and other strategic documents. As the team leader, you will guide a small team and collaborate closely with councils, iwi, emergency services, government agencies, and communities to deliver inclusive, evidence-based, and operationally practical planning.

This role also involves:

• Travel within the region and occasional travel elsewhere in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Participating in the 24/7 duty team roster and performing emergency response and recovery functions as necessary during emergencies.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

We are looking for someone with a strong background leading teams and managing complex projects in multi-stakeholder environments, along with extensive experience in emergency management planning, risk reduction, or civil defence leadership. You will have excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to work through complex issues and make sound decisions under pressure. Your exceptional interpersonal skills will foster team cohesion and enable you to engage confidently across all levels of the organisation and partner agencies.

 To be successful in the role, you will demonstrate: 

• A strong understanding of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 and related legislative frameworks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presenting to senior management.
• Resilience, adaptability, and flexibility to keep up with the ever-changing nature of HBRC.

A relevant tertiary qualification in emergency management, planning, risk management, public policy, or a related field, along with a full New Zealand driver licence is expected.

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:

The salary range for this role is between $113,305 to $133,300 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

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.

See a full list of our staff benefits here 

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 Friday, 17 April 2026, 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. 

Please apply through Seek. If you would like any further information regarding the role, please email hr@hbrc.govt.nz

To view the job description please click here.

Applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

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. 

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