Team Manager Ecological Advice

• Lead a specialist team driving ecological and outstanding natural features outcomes across Auckland
• Combine people leadership with deep technical expertise
• Deliver high-quality ecological advice into council’s regulatory and operational programmes

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

At Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Council, we’re committed to restoring and protecting the natural environment for current and future generations. Within our Environmental Services department, the Ecological Advice team plays a vital role in this mission – working across the organisation and with external stakeholders to protect biodiversity and outstanding natural features (ONF) through expert ecological and ONF input into consents, planning, and operational delivery.

We’re now looking for a Team Manager to lead this highly skilled and passionate team.

In this role, you’ll lead a team of ecologists and geologists who provide specialist advice into regulatory and non-regulatory processes – including resource consenting, compliance, operational delivery, and strategy. You’ll also play a key role in business improvement, prioritising workloads, refining delivery models, and ensuring best practice is embedded across your team and reflected in how we engage with developers, planners, iwi, and community partners.

The team’s advice helps ensure the region’s unique ecological and geological features are protected and enhanced. Your leadership will help maintain high standards of technical quality, responsiveness, and customer service – ensuring our work is respected, practical, and grounded in both science and mātauranga Māori.

He kōrero mōu: About you

• You’re an experienced leader with strong people management capability and a background in ecology, conservation, biodiversity and/or geology-related disciplines. You’ll bring at least 10 years’ sector experience and proven success in leading or coaching others. You’ll be confident prioritising workloads, overseeing work programmes, and improving systems and processes for efficiency.
• You’ll also be comfortable engaging across a wide range of stakeholders, able to build trust and communicate with clarity in high-pressure, contested or politically sensitive contexts. You’ll have existing networks in the resourcing consenting world, making you comfortable engaging with planners and consultants and supporting your team to do the same.
• Critically, you’ll value and demonstrate commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori outcomes and support your team to grow their capability in this space.
• You must have a full and clean NZ Drivers' License to be successful in this role.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

Auckland Council is the largest local government council across Oceania, serving over 1.7 million people and contributing towards making Tāmaki Makaurau a world-class city. 

We offer a range of employee benefits and proudly support flexible working options where possible. You’ll have access to a range of fantastic Auckland Council benefits, EAP services, an Oranga Day and discounted Leisure Centre membership and a range of other partnership discounts! View a snapshot of some of our employee benefits here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bk7WGJT_t7vY7iKAiqd0YPS0C73-ZTtM/view?usp=sharing

We are a diverse organisation – we value diversity in our thinking, and we can only achieve that with a diverse team!

Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini - My success is not mine alone, but the success of many.

Tono Mai: Apply Now!

You can find the position description here
Applications close: Monday 18th August 2025

Please note: 

• Qualification Checks will be conducted along with other relevant pre-employment checks required for employment with Auckland Council.
• Safety Sensitive: This role is deemed safety sensitive and, in line with Auckland Council policy, you will be required to complete pre-employment drug & alcohol testing.

Our employer Kiwisaver contribution is additional to base salary offered.

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process. 

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