Team Leader - CME (2 Positions)

Mō te tūranga | About the role

• We are looking for two dynamic and effective leaders who are passionate about achieving positive environmental outcomes for the Waikato region.
• These roles are focused on some of our biggest environmental risks and priorities.
• These roles will require highly experienced candidates, comfortable navigating and leading through a complex and evolving resource management landscape, with a depth of people leadership experience.
• In this role, you will exemplify best practise CME standards and help to mentor, support and develop others.
• Reporting to the Regional Compliance Manager, you will develop and lead compliance strategies for existing and emerging environmental regulations and policies as these relate to the sectors and activities we regulate.
• You'll enjoy working alongside a well-established and highly experienced leadership team with a great sense of camaraderie.
• Based in our modern, purpose-built offices at the heart of Hamilton's bustling CBD, and benefiting from a flexible working environment, this could be a career defining role for the right candidates.

Mō te tangata | About you

• A highly effective people manager and strategic thinker with a depth of experience in both the regulatory profession and leading teams, who can confidently and authoritatively translate the technical nuances of a complex regulatory environment into CME workflow.
• You foster a constructive and learning-focused team environment through modelling the standards, open communication and relationship-building approach that gets results.
• Motivated and committed to making a lasting difference for the Waikato. You'll be passionate about sustainable management of our resources, but also able to see the big picture, pragmatically and diplomatically navigating competing interests to achieve the best long-term outcomes.
• You'll be a solution and people-focused problem solver that's calm under pressure, with the agility and resourcefulness to measure up to this high-profile role.
• A strong understanding of Te Ao Māori and being able to demonstrate a clear commitment to working with iwi to meet both our Treaty obligations and the growing expectations of tangata whenua across the region is a must*.*

Mō ngā pūkenga | Qualifications and experience

• Relevant tertiary qualification in compliance, science, law, resource management or other relevant discipline, and/or equivalent relevant experience in a regulatory environment.
• No less than 15 years’ operational experience in regulatory or enforcement agencies with no less than 5 years of that time in supervisory roles that included leadership, people management, business planning and/or project management.
• Applied experience in working with the Resource Management Act, including a sound knowledge of all facets of compliance, monitoring and enforcement.
• Strategic and tactical thinking skills, ideally able to demonstrate strategic response to non-compliance in a regulatory setting.

Mō te tīma | About the team

• Reporting to the Regional Compliance Manager, you will supervise a team of eight dedicated CME professionals.
• Your team of officers sit at a range of levels and specialise in using well established CME practices to navigate complex and changing regulatory landscapes to achieve positive environmental outcomes.
• There are four CME portfolio teams in the Compliance section. Each team is allocated specific portfolios based around industries and activities that we regulate.

Mō mātou | About us

• We work hard to care for the mighty Waikato, so current and future generations will benefit from a healthy environment, strong economy, and vibrant communities.
• Our mahi is as diverse as the region we care for and the people who share it. Our work helps look after our region's water, soil, air, geothermal areas and coasts - so we can all enjoy these precious resources for generations to come.
• Customers sit at the heart of everything we do, and all staff have an important role to play in the delivery of exceptional customer service.
• If you’d like to understand more about what we do please click here The work we do | Waikato Regional Council.
• By partnering with iwi and working with many others in our communities, our collective kaitiakitanga will make the Waikato region even better. Together, we’ll create a sustainable future that will make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Mō te tuku tono | How to apply

• Applications will be reviewed as they come in, and this role will close on Sunday 23 August 2026.
• For a copy of the role description, please click here.
• If you have any questions about the role, please contact [email protected]
• Please click ‘apply’ and include your CV & cover letter as a pdf. Apply now!