Senior Building Consent Officer

E ngā iwi, e ngā karangatanga huri noa i te motu, tēnei te mihi atu ki a koutou katoa. He īnoi tēnei ki a koe. Tono mai ki tētahi tūnga ki te Kaunihera o Ōtautahi

Working at the Christchurch City Council gives you an opportunity to collectively enrich this city we call home. Work with like-minded individuals who every day ensure the safety of people living and working in our city's buildings. You may already be an expert in the world of building consents or worked at a Building Consent Authority, either way, we would love to hear from you

We are seeking an experienced and customer-focused Senior Building Consent Officer to play a key role in delivering high-quality building consent services. This position combines technical expertise, leadership, and customer service excellence to ensure building consent applications are assessed efficiently, accurately, and in accordance with the Building Act and Building Code.

About the role | Ko te mahi nei

In this role, you will provide professional advice and guidance to building consent officers, customers, applicants, consultants, and industry stakeholders. You will assess and process building consent applications, analyse complex technical information, evaluate alternative solutions, and make sound decisions within statutory timeframes.

Our Building Consenting team is committed to delivering trusted, efficient, and customer-focused services that support safe, compliant, and sustainable development within our community.

We are a collaborative & dedicated group of professionals who value technical excellence, continuous learning, innovation, and positive customer outcomes. Working closely with colleagues across Council, industry professionals, and external agencies, we strive to be leaders in building consent service delivery.

You'll also contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, help shape policy and procedures, and support the development of a high-performing team through coaching, mentoring, and technical leadership.

Key responsibilities include:

• Processing and determining building consent applications within legislative timeframes.

• Providing clear, accurate, and consistent advice on building consent processes and requirements.

• Conducting pre-application consultations and engaging with applicants, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Investigating and responding to customer enquiries and complaints with professionalism and empathy.

• Assessing site hazards, technical reports, and alternative solutions for compliance with the Building Code.

• Maintaining accurate records and keeping customers informed throughout the consent process.

About you | Ko Koe Tēnei

You must have a current building consent authority competency for residential processing level 3 and you are a technically skilled building professional with a strong understanding of the Building Act, Building Code, and building consent processes. You combine sound judgement and attention to detail with a passion for customer service and continuous improvement.

You are an excellent communicator who can build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, explain technical information clearly, and navigate challenging conversations with professionalism and empathy.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Significant experience in building consenting, compliance and building control.

• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Proven ability to interpret plans, specifications, engineering reports, and technical documentation.

• Experience assessing alternative solutions and complex building applications.

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and statutory deadlines.

• A commitment to delivering outstanding customer service.

• Leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, and developing others.

What's in it for you? He aha ngā hua ki a koe?

Want to be involved in shaping your City? Here at the Council we know our strength comes from our people, working together as one team to create results. When you join us, you're getting involved first hand, and contributing to crafting the Christchurch community. You will also benefit from:

• Access to training programmes, workshops, and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements - WFH, adjustable start and finish times, option to purchase extra leave.
• Collaboration - exposure to wider areas of the organisation
• Benefits - a variety of benefits for Council staff from health schemes to retail discounts.

If this sounds like an interesting opportunity, you think you have what it takes and want to get involved in shaping our City then please apply today.

Additional Information | Ko ētahi atu kōrero

At the Christchurch City Council, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways.

We understand that recruitment processes can be challenging. If you require any support or adjustments to help you put your best foot forward, please reach out to us at ***email_hidden***

• Hours of work - 37.5 - 40 hours per week
• Position - Fulltime Permanent Position
• Location - This position is primarily based at Te Hononga, Christchurch City Council Civic Offices - 53 Hereford Street
• Salary - The salary band for this position goes from $105,450 - $117,167 per annum based on a 40 hour week. Starting salaries will be based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, and relativities both, within the immediate team and in the broader organisation for the same or similar roles.
• To view the position description, please click here
• Closing Date - 19th July 2026

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the close date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad before the advertised close date.