Senior/Land Management Advisor - Fixed Term - Central Hawke's Bay

Published: 4 May 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:

We are looking for a Senior/Land Management Advisor to join our Land Management Team on a Fixed Term basis (up to 12 months) for parental leave cover. This team is responsible for overseeing and coordinating Council’s catchment management functions and on-farm delivery of Next Gen Land Management.

This role provides expert advice on soil conservation, erosion, and mitigation, while leading the delivery of complex catchment and on‑farm projects. It supports climate‑smart and sustainable land use through close work with landowners, catchment groups, tāngata whenua, and sector partners, and includes mentoring Land Managers through complex landowner engagements. In addition, the position helps scale up soil conservation initiatives, supports grants, monitoring and reporting, and works collaboratively with science, policy, and advisory teams at local, regional, and national levels. As part of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Integrated Catchment Management approach, the position is central to delivering beyond‑regulatory solutions that achieve lasting environmental and community outcomes.

This is a full time, fixed term opportunity based in Waipawa.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

You’ll bring strong technical capability, excellent relationship skills, and a genuine commitment to sustainable land management. Advanced knowledge of soil properties, erosion processes, and soil conservation techniques, along with experience working across a wide range of farming systems and rural environments. You will have a proven ability to build trust with landowners and confidently navigate challenging or sensitive conversations, complemented by strong project management, reporting, and organisational skills. The role also requires confidence in mentoring others and contributing effectively at a senior technical level.

Ideally you will also have:

• A relevant bachelor’s degree (e.g. Geography, Agriculture, Environmental or Agricultural Science)
• 5+ years’ post‑qualification experience in sustainable land management or primary sector technical advisory roles
• A current full driver’s licence
• Experience with farm planning and/or nutrient management certification is desirable.

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:

The salary range for this role is between $88,995 to $104,700 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
• 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 Wednesday, 3 June 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.

Applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

To view the job description please visit our website here

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

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