Team Leader Monitoring Water Resilience

We're looking for an experienced people leader to join our Monitoring Water Resilience team.

This permanent role can either be based in our Wellington or Masterton offices.

About the role

You'll lead a highly capable team of hydrology and groundwater monitoring specialists whose work underpins decisions about flood resilience, water security and the health of our freshwater environment. This is an opportunity to support great people, shape a critical work programme, and contribute to outcomes that matter for communities across the Wellington Region.

Reporting to the Manager Data and Monitoring, you'll be part of the Knowledge and Insights function within Greater Wellington's Environment Group, working alongside our other environmental monitoring and data teams.

You'll provide leadership and direction to a team of around 13 specialists based across our Wellington and Masterton offices, ensuring the successful delivery of hydrological and groundwater monitoring programmes, flood forecasting services, and other critical services that support regional water resilience.

The role combines people leadership, operational oversight and strategic planning. You'll support the development of your team, manage resources and priorities, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure trusted environmental data and insights are available to support decision-making.

Skills and experience required

• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to engage, motivate and develop a geographically dispersed operational team delivering critical monitoring programmes and projects.
• Significant experience in environmental monitoring or a closely related field, preferably hydrology or water resources.
• Strong relationship management and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, mana whenua and other stakeholders.
• Experience leading teams through change, with the ability to bring people with you, adapt to new ways of working, and support continuous improvement.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to balance operational delivery, long-term priorities and competing demands.
• Experience leading health, safety and wellbeing outcomes in operational field-based environments.
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ao Māori, or a demonstrated willingness to grow capability in this area and apply it in your work.
• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent practical experience.

What we offer

• Work to suit your life and whānau with our flexible working policy.
• We'll encourage you to grow and prosper with a range of learning and development opportunities, internal secondments and career progression.
• Your wellbeing is our priority - we'll provide medical and trauma insurance, support through our employee assistance programme, including Rongoā Māori partner providers, generous annual leave, along with Tangihanga leave and support.
• We want you to have a sense of belonging, where you can reflect your personal and cultural identity in the way that you work.
• Social clubs, staff networks and a friendly and inclusive culture.
• Great working environments across our beautiful region.

Come help treasure and grow our rohe together

Our rohe and its lands, waterways, animals, plants and people can only grow stronger if they are nurtured.

To join our team is to step up and commit to playing an active part in this important mahi. That means restoring nature, connecting people and places, reducing environmental impacts and helping this rohe and its people prosper.

We are part of a collective movement alongside mana whenua and community members whose hopes for the future of this region are just as high as your own.

Our efforts across environmental management, public transport, flood protection, regional parks and water supply are interconnected and integral to treasuring our rohe and growing our future.

How to apply

Greater Wellington is proud to be a member of Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion. We value diversity and are committed to an inclusive, flexible, and supportive workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and welcome the unique talent and experience you will bring to our team.

We are passionate about ensuring our recruitment processes are fair and equitable. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs or adjustments that need to be made so we can offer a recruitment process that is more accessible to you.

Click on the Apply link to view the position description and to apply for the role with a cover letter and CV.

All applicants will be required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in New Zealand as we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position.

For further information, please contact James Luty, 027 254 2230.

Applications close: 5.00pm, Sunday 15 November 2026 . However, we will be shortlisting applications as they come in and will interview as soon as possible to secure the right person.

Greater Wellington is an accredited Living Wage Employer. We're committed to making sure our people, including people in our supply chain, earn enough to meet life's basic needs, support their whānau, and participate fully in their communities.

The total remuneration for this position, including all benefits, is $114,906 to $172,359 per annum, with a midpoint of $143,632. Starting remuneration will depend on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.