We're looking for a Principal Advisor Climate Change Adaptation to join our team at Wellington City Council, and support the delivery of the climate adaption workstream that is set out in Te Atakura - First to Zero, our climate action strategy and action plan. This role will play a critical role in increasing Wellington's resilience to climate change impacts, a key priority for Council in the 2024 Long-term Plan.

The role is part of a newly forming team led by Jamuna Rotstein, Climate Change Adaptation Lead. Jamuna has worked in a variety of climate adaptation and community resilience roles in local government and humanitarian sector in New Zealand, Australia and Uganda. She is passionate about collaborating with diverse stakeholders to build resilience and sustainability, with a strong focus on fostering partnerships with mana whenua and Māori in alignment with our Tākai Here partnership. Jamuna is therefore looking to recruit across a range of cultural and technical backgrounds.



Āu ake mahi | What you'll do.

The Principal Advisor will bring relevant skills and experience applying best practice and innovative climate adaptation planning practices to respond to issues associated with climate change in Wellington.

This role will be responsible for:

• Providing expert advice regarding climate change data in climate adaptation planning processes, as well as advising on best practice adaptation planning processes and options.
• Building the Council's collective capacity to plan for climate change impacts, including leading the delivery of best practice climate change risk and impact assessments, overseeing the development of GIS tools and training to build the Council's capacity to strategically prioritise climate change impacts and adaptation efforts.
• Leading the development of a coordinated and strategic approach for Council, citywide and community climate adaptation planning in Wellington with a focus on strategic and spatial planning, and climate risk management.
• Communicating climate science and climate adaptation planning practices to a wide range of internal and external audiences from executives to community members, including through the Community Adaptation Planning Programme.
• Working closely with Council's Māori strategic outcomes team (Mataaho Aronui) and other Māori partnership advisors to incorporate te ao Māori into the adaptation work programme.

Ngā tohu me ngā wheako | Qualifications and experience

This role is a senior position in the Climate Change Adaptation team, and as the Principal Advisor you are expected to be a leading subject matter expert on local government adaptation planning. We're looking for someone who has 7+ years' experience in adaptation, with a background in urban planning, engineering (e.g. environmental, coastal, structural, or civil), resilience to natural hazards or other relevant technical training.

You will bring:

• An understanding and passion for applying te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi to climate adaptation planning practice, supported by Council's Māori capability framework.
• Expert technical knowledge and analysis of climate change science and data, climate risks and impacts, as well as strategic climate change adaptation planning approaches with a focus urban spatial planning topics (e.g. natural hazards, coastal management, water management, spatial planning, infrastructure planning, asset management, environmental management, waste management, community adaptation planning).
• Expert technical knowledge and experience developing climate adaption solutions for cities informed by relevant climate change adaptation policy, legislation, and regulatory requirements for the local government context.
• Excellent organisational capacity building skills, with a strong ability to collaborate, coach and partner with others to foster relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including Council kaimahi, regional council staff and community groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into easily accessible content.

We are looking to appoint between $123,558 - $145,361 per annum, for this role, depending on relevant skills and experience.

We're not necessarily looking for someone who ticks all the boxes, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet every requirement in the job description, we strongly encourage you to apply!

About us

We're working for Wellington. Wellington City Council's team provides more than 400 services every day for Wellingtonians - everything from parks and pools to consents and cemeteries - playing our part in making Pōneke an inclusive, sustainable and creative capital for people to live, work and play.

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including five weeks annual leave, flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, staff discounts and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities. We also have a range of kaimahi networks including a women's network, Queer@Council, and a kaimahi Māori network.

Applications close 1st October 2024. All applications must be submitted online.

All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand

If you have questions, please contact Jamuna Rotstein, Climate Change Adaption Lead Jamuna.Rotstein@wcc.govt.nz

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone. Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing recruitment@wcc.govt.nz



Kia mahi ngātahi mō Pōneke mō tōna āpōpō | Working together for Wellington's future113 The Terrace, Wellington Central