About the role:

Are you driven by operational performance, environmental protection and community engagement? Selwyn District Council is seeking a Waterways Monitoring and Education Specialist to support the function and health of our waterways and promote sustainable practices across the district.

As a key member of the Surface Waters Team, you'll contribute to the strategic and operational management of Selwyn's stormwater systems, land drainage networks, and surface water assets. This role blends technical expertise with community outreach, offering a unique opportunity to influence operational and environmental compliance, and emergency response.

Key Responsibilities

• Surface Waters Management: Assist in the operation and strategic oversight of stormwater treatment facilities, pump stations, land drainage systems, and stock water races.
• Monitoring & Inspections: Conduct site inspections across discharge networks, construction zones, and public infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
• Education & Compliance: Engage with residents and businesses to promote best practices in surface water management, issuing clean-up notices and formal warnings where necessary.
• Pollution Investigations: Lead investigations into pollution events, including illegal discharges and sediment runoff, and collaborate with regulatory agencies for enforcement.
• Emergency Response: Support flood response efforts through planning, analysis, and implementation of mitigation strategies during severe weather events.

About you:

You're an operationally focussed professional with a knack for building relationships and delivering impactful education. You bring a proactive approach to compliance and a collaborative spirit to community engagement.

You'll have:

• 5+ years' experience in surface water management or a related field
• Proven experience working with water assets such as culverts, wetlands, and stock water systems
• Familiarity with farming and irrigation sector operations
• Strong understanding of environmental legislation (RMA, LGA, Water Services Bill)
• Experience in compliance auditing, monitoring programs, and enforcement
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for diverse audiences

What we can offer:

• Flexible working arrangements for a great work-life balance
• Career development and coaching opportunities
• Life insurance and wellbeing leave
• Volunteer leave and three paid days off between Christmas and New Year
• Two weeks paid Partners Leave
• Sick leave from day one
• Continued KiwiSaver contributions during savings suspension

Discounts with local and national businesses

About us:

Selwyn is one of the fastest-growing districts in New Zealand. We have a fantastic quality of life, great communities, and a thriving economy. Our Council works actively with residents to provide the services and facilities that help our communities to thrive and grow.

Our head office is located in Rolleston (only 25km from Christchurch), which offers an enviable family lifestyle, outstanding local facilities and an easy drive to the ski fields, rivers and hills that make up Canterbury's stunning landscape.

At Selwyn District Council, our values guide everything we do:

• Be a good human
• Be brave - Think differently
• Better together - Make it happen for Selwyn

We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with our Treaty partner to deliver on our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

We value the safety of our community - this role requires a satisfactory safety check including police vetting and for you to pass a drug and alcohol test.

Apply now and bring your passion for the environment and technical expertise to a district that's making things happen.