Land Management Officer

Based in beautiful Whakatāne ‘the kiwi capital of the world’, work alongside local communities to protect our natural environment and create lasting change in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Thriving together - mō te taiao, mō ngā tāngata.
Our environment and our people go hand-in-hand.

Why you'll love this role

• Meaningful work that makes a tangible impact to the environment
• Diverse mix of fieldwork, community engagement and project delivery
• Supportive team culture with great colleagues
• Opportunities to learn, grow and develop your career
• Permanent full-time position based in Whakatāne, the gateway to explore the Eastern Bay of Plenty

Te āhuatunga a te tūranga | About the role

Reporting to the Team Leader, Eastern Coastal Catchments, you'll be part of a dedicated and hardworking team building strong relationships and delivering projects to achieve environmental outcomes in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

In this role, you will:

• Partner with landowners, iwi, community groups and other stakeholders on projects that support sustainable land management and biodiversity outcomes.
• Protect, restore and enhance significant biodiversity sites.
• Support community groups and volunteers to protect local ecosystems that matter most to them.
• Promote strategies to improve water quality and soil conservation.
• Prepare contract specifications and oversee delivery of on the ground works.
• Develop Environmental Programmes with landowners and tangata whenua.
• Provide practical, timely and accurate advice to landowners and the wider community.

If you're looking for a rewarding role, enjoy working with people, and want to be part of positive environmental change, this role offers a unique opportunity to do work that matters.

Ō pūmanawa | Your skills and experience

We're looking for someone who enjoys connecting with people, the environment and creating practical change.

Ideally, you'll have:

• A qualification in science, natural resource management, agriculture, environmental management, or a related field.
• A background in sustainable land management, farming systems, soil conservation, water quality, biodiversity or ecosystem management.
• Experience engaging with rural communities and building trusted relationships.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to build relationships and negotiate win-win outcomes.

Don't meet every requirement? We'd still love to hear from you. Candidates with strong potential may be considered for a Land Management Officer II development pathway, where training and support will be provided to help build capability and experience.

Candidates with strong potential may be considered for a Land Management Officer II development pathway, where training and support will be provided to help build capability and experience.

Ko wai mātou | Who we are

Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for land, air and water as well as public transport and economic development. A major focus of our work involves looking after the environment. We manage the effects of people's use of freshwater, land, air and coastal water. However, we also have a broader responsibility with others for the economic, social and cultural well-being of the regional community.

We are a values-driven organisation, that really cares about our people.  Who you are is important to us and we welcome diversity as an opportunity to grow our teams and are keen to support people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions and abilities. We want Toi Moana to be a place where you bring your whole self to work.

You’ll be joining the Coastal Catchments team. We work closely with farmers, tangata whenua, consultants and the wider community across the coastal catchments of the Bay of Plenty to progress a range of challenging but rewarding environmental projects.  You can expect to be involved in a diverse range of work – covering biodiversity, water quality, land management practices, soils, erosion and community engagement.

This role is located in Whakatāne.

Ahurea | Culture

As a values driven organisation, we really care about our people and in our annual staff engagement surveys we regularly score ‘well above average’ (when measured against other organisations). People like working with us because we offer:

• Competitive remuneration
• Extra paid leave over Christmas/New Year
• Support to enable you to learn and develop your career
• A commitment to ‘spirit of service’
• Excellent wellbeing initiatives

Whakatāne offers an exceptional lifestyle, combining natural beauty, a strong sense of community, and easy access to some of New Zealand's most spectacular outdoor environments. As the gateway to the Eastern Bay of Plenty, you'll enjoy a relaxed coastal lifestyle while working on environmental projects that have a real and lasting impact close to home.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

If you're ready to combine your passion for people, land and the environment with a career that makes a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Click APPLY NOW or contact Kendall Smithon [029 368 9597](tel:029 368 9597) for a confidential discussion.

To access a copy of Te Tūranga Mahi (Job Description) please click on the following link or copy and paste it into your web browser: https://tinyurl.com/2vw75ryt

NB: To apply for this job, you must have the legal right to be able to work in New Zealand and also a current, valid driver's licence. As this position is designated as being "safety sensitive", the successful candidate will be asked to undergo a pre-employment drug and alcohol check as part of the recruitment.

Applications close 5pm, Monday 7 September 2026 and will only be accepted online.