Principal Advisor Intelligence - 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:

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (HB CDEM) Group is undergoing significant transformation following Cyclone Gabrielle and in response to the evolving challenges of climate change. Operating as a shared service on behalf of the region’s councils, the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (HB CDEM) team take a regional and strategic approach to building resilience across communities, mana whenua, and partners. 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.

We are looking for a Principal Advisor Intelligence to join the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (HBCDEM) team, and lead the regional intelligence capability that delivers high-quality situational awareness, forecasting, and analysis to support effective decision-making at local and regional levels. This role is responsible for integrating information from multiple sources to identify emerging risks, anticipate impacts, and provide clear, evidence-based insights across all areas of emergency management. Working closely with councils, mana whenua, emergency services, and HBRC’s ICT and GIS teams, you will ensure that intelligence processes and information flows are coordinated, resilient, and aligned with national standards.

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.

This is a full time, permanent opportunity based in Hastings, Hawke's Bay. 

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

We are looking for someone with proven experience in developing and delivering intelligence or situational awareness functions in emergency management or a comparable operational environment. You will bring strong analytical and research capabilities, with the ability to translate complex hazard data into practical disaster risk management strategies. You will be a confident communicator, both written and verbal with the ability to present insights and recommendations to a wide range of stakeholders. 

You will also have:

• A Tertiary qualification in emergency management, information management, intelligence, public policy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with information management systems, data analysis tools, and processes that support real time decision-making.
• Knowledge of GIS systems and working with IT teams to support system integration is advantageous.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, particularly under pressure.
• A Valid driver’s licence is required.
• Resilience, adaptability, and flexibility to keep up with the ever-changing nature of HBRC.

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:

The salary range for this role is between $104,635 to $123,100 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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