Principal Strategic Advisor to the ChairWaitaha - our Canterbury region - is like no other and we are proud to call it home. We are privileged to be working with Nga Papatipu Runanga, stakeholders, and our wider community to protect our environment, including water, land, and air through regulation and planning. As a Regional Council we're responsible for flood protection, public transport, civil defence, and more.
Together we're taking action to shape a thriving and resilient Canterbury, now and for future generations. Toitu te marae o Tane, toitu te marae o Tangaroa, toitu te tangata, If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive.
This is a full-time, permanent - Senior Advisory role within the Office of the Chief Executive and Chair, responsible for supporting the Chair, with the provision of high quality and timely information, insights, and advice. This is an exciting and fast paced role and a rare opportunity to grow your skills and drive your career forward, as you will be involved at all levels across Environment Canterbury and beyond.
Your primary responsibilities will be:
Providing high-quality strategic and trusted advice to the Chair on the execution of Council strategy, delivery of key leadership and organisational priorities, and urgent or emerging issues. Developing and maintaining effective internal and external networks and information flows to ensure the Chair is fully appraised on relevant strategic issues. Maintaining an overview of all Council and Committee papers and agendas, supporting the Chair in maintaining awareness of stakeholder and organisational priorities, and urgent or emerging issues.Undertaking research activities, including identifying key and future issues affecting and influencing the Council, including (but not limited to) legislative, Regional and Local Government policy, environmental, economic, and social changes.Ensuring the Chair is well briefed and prepared for meetings, aware of the key issues and key outcomes required through the facilitation, preparation and/or provision of briefing notes, discussion papers, and verbal advice.Working with the Governance Team, providing support in the drafting of correspondence, ensuring the position of the Council is accurately represented.To be successful in this role, the right attitude is key.
People will describe you as a "go getter"; someone who is an agile thinker, solutions focused and always prepared to get stuck in where needed.
You'll need to be well organised and structured in your working style.
You'll be known for your strong communication and your natural empathy, connecting people, and building positive working relationships throughout the organisation.
You'll hold a tertiary qualification, preferably in political science, public policy, or environmental management, and bring significant tenure 5 + years in a similar, professional services role.
To be successful in this fast paced, complex environment, you will require an organisational perspective and approach.
You will have:
Strong political nous, with the ability to be flexible and adaptive, within an environment that may be, at times, ambiguous or unclear.Proven experience interpreting legislation, particularly Local Government legislation, policy, and practice. Knowledge of Local Government meeting processes is desirable.Strategic and conceptual thinking skills along with experience of providing advice/engaging with Executive and/or Board at a Strategic Level.Research and analysis skills and experience combined with exceptional written and verbal communication skills.Ability to prioritise, monitor and balance conflicting priorities and activities from across the organisation and react to changing circumstances. Demonstrated ability to influence Senior Leaders, staff and stakeholders to achieve organisational outcomes. Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage with people at all levels and influence to achieve organisational outcomes. Understanding of Te Ao Maori is advantageous, as the Chair's relationship with Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Papatipu Runanga and iwi leaders across Aotearoa is significant.Our values underpin everything we do. We understand and embrace a diverse workforce; this diversity will enable us to better serve our people, our community, and our greatest taonga, the environment. We value everyone's contribution, diverse thinking, and skills.
We're on a journey to become a treaty partner of excellence, including incorporating te ao Maori into our work. We offer supportive opportunities to develop capability in this area and encourage our people to use kaupapa Maori, matauranga Maori, and te reo Maori in our daily work. We welcome you with an open heart & mind, wherever you are on your personal te ao Maori journey.
For a confidential chat about this role, please contact Lisa Goodman - 0273403973
To find out more about us and the mahi we do - click here .
Applications close on Wednesday 3rd April 2024. We encourage you to apply early, we will be reviewing applications as we receive them and reserve the right to close the advertising early.
Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role.
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