General Manager Partnering & Advisory
Environment Canterbury
Date: 10 hours ago
City: Christchurch, Canterbury
Contract type: Full time
Job Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Job Category: Environmental Services,HR & Recruitment
As a regional council, we’re responsible for managing natural resources like air, water, and land across the Waitaha Canterbury region. We work in genuine partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment for current and future generations.
Our region is changing, and so are we. Whether it’s environmental shifts, regulatory reforms, or the evolving needs of our people and communities, we’re committed to adapting and responding with integrity, collaboration, and purpose.
Our Mahi (work) Centres On Delivering Three Core Services
We’re looking for a strategic and people-focused leader to step into the newly created role of General Manager – Partnering & Advisory.
This is a pivotal leadership role in our refreshed People, Safety and Wellbeing function, responsible for driving high-quality people advice and support across the organisation. You’ll lead a capable and respected team of Business Partners, Advisors, and our in-house Employment Relations Specialist, ensuring our approach is values-aligned, future-focused and consistently excellent.
Reporting to our CPO, you’ll be a trusted advisor to senior leaders—supporting organisational performance and wellbeing through proactive partnership, strong cultural competence, and sound employment practice. You’ll help shape and lead collective bargaining and build constructive, solutions-focused relationships with our union partners. You’ll ensure our people leadership systems are legally robust, culturally grounded and practically useful—and you’ll play a key role in shaping change, navigating complexity, and building capability.
This role is all about bringing together the technical, the relational, and the strategic—helping ensure our mahi is not only compliant, but deeply people-centred.
Mōu │ About You
You’re a seasoned HR professional with deep experience in business partnering and employment relations. You’ve worked in complex organisations and know how to combine strategic thinking with practical delivery. You’re comfortable navigating ambiguity, and you bring calm, clarity and curiosity to the table.
You understand that people leadership is as much about values and relationships as it is about process. You bring pragmatism and integrity to everything you do—and you support others to do the same. You’re committed to growing inclusive leadership, confident employment practices, and organisational systems that are grounded in care and trust.
Mātau Ā-Wheako │ Experience
To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally bring:
Our Mahi Is Grounded In Our Organisational Values
Ko Ētahi Atu Kōrero │ Additional Information
For a confidential chat about this role, please contact Roz Grant on 027 301 4802.
Applications close Sunday, 20 July. We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and may progress to interviews before the closing date.
Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks, and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required where relevant to the role.
We’re committed to a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but don’t quite meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply.
Job Description
General Manager Partnering & Advisory
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Job Category: Environmental Services,HR & Recruitment
- Shape high-impact, people-centred solutions
- Pivotal leadership role
- Work in a values-led, Treaty-grounded organisation
As a regional council, we’re responsible for managing natural resources like air, water, and land across the Waitaha Canterbury region. We work in genuine partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment for current and future generations.
Our region is changing, and so are we. Whether it’s environmental shifts, regulatory reforms, or the evolving needs of our people and communities, we’re committed to adapting and responding with integrity, collaboration, and purpose.
Our Mahi (work) Centres On Delivering Three Core Services
- Environmental Regulation and Protection
- Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards
- Public Transport
We’re looking for a strategic and people-focused leader to step into the newly created role of General Manager – Partnering & Advisory.
This is a pivotal leadership role in our refreshed People, Safety and Wellbeing function, responsible for driving high-quality people advice and support across the organisation. You’ll lead a capable and respected team of Business Partners, Advisors, and our in-house Employment Relations Specialist, ensuring our approach is values-aligned, future-focused and consistently excellent.
Reporting to our CPO, you’ll be a trusted advisor to senior leaders—supporting organisational performance and wellbeing through proactive partnership, strong cultural competence, and sound employment practice. You’ll help shape and lead collective bargaining and build constructive, solutions-focused relationships with our union partners. You’ll ensure our people leadership systems are legally robust, culturally grounded and practically useful—and you’ll play a key role in shaping change, navigating complexity, and building capability.
This role is all about bringing together the technical, the relational, and the strategic—helping ensure our mahi is not only compliant, but deeply people-centred.
Mōu │ About You
You’re a seasoned HR professional with deep experience in business partnering and employment relations. You’ve worked in complex organisations and know how to combine strategic thinking with practical delivery. You’re comfortable navigating ambiguity, and you bring calm, clarity and curiosity to the table.
You understand that people leadership is as much about values and relationships as it is about process. You bring pragmatism and integrity to everything you do—and you support others to do the same. You’re committed to growing inclusive leadership, confident employment practices, and organisational systems that are grounded in care and trust.
Mātau Ā-Wheako │ Experience
To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally bring:
- Extensive senior experience in human resources, people partnering and/or employment relations
- Strong leadership experience, with the ability to coach, grow and support high-performing teams
- Proven ability to lead collective bargaining and build strong, respectful partnerships with unions
- Confidence navigating ER issues in a way that is lawful, values-led and future-focused
- Deep experience building and embedding partnering models that lift capability and support leaders through change
- Cultural competence and experience applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi in an organisational context
- Strong political and commercial acumen, with the ability to influence and advise at senior levels
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across a wide range of stakeholders
- Public sector experience would be an advantage
Our Mahi Is Grounded In Our Organisational Values
- Kaitiakitanga (Stewardship)
- Pononga (Integrity)
- Manaakitanga (People First)
- Whanaungatanga (Collaboration)
- Māiatanga (Can Do)
Ko Ētahi Atu Kōrero │ Additional Information
For a confidential chat about this role, please contact Roz Grant on 027 301 4802.
Applications close Sunday, 20 July. We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and may progress to interviews before the closing date.
Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks, and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required where relevant to the role.
We’re committed to a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but don’t quite meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply.
Job Description
General Manager Partnering & Advisory
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