Date: 16 Apr 2025
Location: Central Auckland, NZ, 1010
Company: Auckland Council

• Lead strategic waste planning for Auckland’s journey toward Zero Waste by 2040, delivering impactful policies and programmes.
• Provide effective people leadership through mentoring, coaching, and supporting staff development to build a high-performing, future-focused team.
• This is a hybrid position and includes travel across the Auckland region whilst being based at head office.

He angitūtanga: The opportunity
Auckland Council has an opportunity for a permanent full-time Waste Planning Manager to lead the Waste Planning team and help deliver our vision of a Zero Waste Auckland by 2040.

Based at 135 Albert Street in the CBD, this role reports to the General Manager Waste Solutions and involves travel across the Auckland region as needed.

This is a pivotal leadership position responsible for delivering the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP), with a focus on protecting people, the environment, and transforming waste into resources. You will provide strategic direction, high-quality political and regulatory advice, and lead programme delivery through strong collaboration and partnerships.

A key part of the role includes planning and managing Waste Levy investment to support WMMP outcomes and drive meaningful impact across the region.

You could expect to:

• Lead the development and delivery of strategies, policies, and programmes to meet the goals of the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP).
• Provide high-quality political (local and national) and regulatory advice, supported by robust analysis and evaluation, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and effective programme delivery.
• Build and manage key relationships to maximise social, environmental, cultural, and economic outcomes, including engagement with elected members, mana whenua, community groups, the waste sector, and other stakeholders.
• Provide strategic leadership on complex initiatives and policies that guide Council and CCO responses to WMMP goals and waste-related services.
• Champion collaboration, engagement, and integration across the department’s leadership team, while actively supporting staff development and capability building.

Please view the position description attached HERE
The renumeration for the role is $168k - $180k

He kōrero mōu: About you
This role requires over 12 years’ experience in the waste sector and/or policy development, including more than 10 years in leadership or management positions. You will bring experience from similar roles within large, complex, and often politically influenced organisations.

You are a highly organised, autonomous individual skilled at maintaining stakeholder relationships, solving problems, and driving performance through influence. Resilient and composed under pressure, you stay focused and energised in fast-paced environments.

We will be looking for specific experience with the key role requirements:

• Degree in Environmental Science or relevant discipline
• Membership of an appropriate professional organisation is preferred
• Strong understanding of waste management and minimisation issues, along with the policies that guide the sector
• Extensive experience in strategic planning and policy development, including providing high-quality advice to elected members

We still encourage you to apply if you have some but not all these requirements.

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.
View a snapshot of some of our employee benefits HERE.
Help us make a difference to Tāmaki Makaurau.

Me Tono Ināianei!: Apply Now!
Applications close: Monday 28th April

If you have any support or access requirements, please advise us when submitting your application so we can assist you.

Our employer Kiwisaver contribution is additional to base salary offered.

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This is a safety sensitive role and as such applicants will be required to undergo drug and alochol testing prior to commencing employment.

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.