Welcome to Heretaunga, the area renowned for its rich and fertile landscape that is sustained by its life-giving dews and waterways. Welcome to Heretaunga, whose beauty is observed by the sharp eye of the harrier hawk; a landscape rich in history and with an esteemed legacy of caring and providing for its inhabitants.

Taitara Mahi - Principal Advisor: District Development
Permanent Full-Time

Hastings District Council has recently reviewed how it approaches and manages its growth and development activities.  This has culminated in the establishment of a dedicated Growth and Development Unit, that leads growth and development work across the Council.  
A very rare opportunity has opened up for a new Principal Advisor District Development to join our Growth and Development Unit.  Planning for sustainable housing and industry is a key component of supporting the Hastings District’s living standards and wellbeing, with deep social, economic, environmental, and fiscal implications. 

Joining our team will see you working in a pivotal senior principal advisory role where your extensive skills and experiences will help shape and guide cross-Council efforts to strategize, plan for, monitor and respond to the housing, industry, urban and rural growth needs as driven by the Government’s National Policy Statement – Urban Development (NPS-UD) Future Development Strategy (FDS), Spatial Planning, Broader Strategies, Structure Plans and other initiatives.  This role will also play a crucial leadership role in ensuring alignment with broader city and regional goals.  

Ōu wheako – about you

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A tertiary qualification in planning (including NZPI membership) or another relevant field is essential as is advanced academic, professional or applied learning and development is preferred.
• Substantial knowledge and experience (>10 years) on matters of growth and development relating to urban planning, housing, transportation, infrastructure and contributing to quality outcomes.  
• Extensive experience in contributing to the creation, and revision of, strategies and policies for growth and development relating to urban planning, housing, transportation, and infrastructure as a result of signalled Central Government policy directives, i.e. - Going for Growth, NPS-UD, RMA reform etc. as they relate to urban and rural growth planning and development matters.  
• An impeccable record of being able to work across Council Teams to ensure that growth supply and uptake is continually monitored (and the growth provision is adequate), phased so as to enable the market to meet demand while aligning LTP budgeted expenditure with cost recoveries (DCs – linked to resource consents, building consents or service connections).     
• Extensive experience in monitoring, reviewing, analysing growth and development data, national and regional policy changes, signals, and trends and making recommendations to inform future growth and development decision-making, policy setting amendments etc, and to develop evidence-based strategies for urban development.
• Demonstrated experience in building strategic relationships with government agencies and other stakeholders
• Strong policy development and the ability to lead the provision of robust research and advice is essential 
• Experience in or a strong understanding of working in the public sector context is likely to be preferred.

This role is part of Growth and Development Unit. 

Situated in the heart of Ngāti Kahungunu, the Hastings district and Hawke’s Bay offer an enjoyable environment in which to live, work and play. If you’d like to be part of a team of professionals that works in a collaborative, fun and supportive culture, on a work program that is diverse, dynamic and full of opportunities, we want to hear from you.