Regulatory Compliance Officer

Te Whakapakari Tahi I Tō tātau Taiao – Enhancing our environment together.

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council are looking for a Regulatory Compliance Officer to join our Policy & Regulation Group. This is a full time, permanent opportunity based in Napier.

As Regulatory Compliance Officer, you will play a key role in protecting the Hawke’s Bay environment through responding to pollution events, investigating non-compliance and ensuring appropriate regulatory and enforcement actions are taken. You will lead complex compliance and enforcement investigations, determine appropriate responses, and prepare case files to support regulatory and legal action where required. This position requires strong analytical skills, sound judgement, and the ability to navigate complex compliance matters while delivering effective environmental outcomes.

In this role, you will gather and assess evidence, manage investigations from initial response through to resolution, and work closely with legal counsel and internal specialists to support enforcement activities. You will engage with individuals, businesses and stakeholders to promote compliance with environmental legislation, contribute to regulatory decision-making, and participate in an after-hours pollution response roster to ensure timely responses to urgent incidents.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

You will have a strong background in regulatory compliance and enforcement, ideally within government or law enforcement, along with analytical and investigative skills to assess complex situations. A solid understanding of environmental legislation and compliance processes is essential, as well as the ability to apply enforcement measures professionally and effectively. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills, be proactive in conflict resolution, and work collaboratively in a team setting.

Key Requirements

• Relevant tertiary degree in Science, Law, Environmental Resource Management or equivalent experience.
• Experience in enforcement, investigations, and applying legislation within government or law enforcement.
• Strong ability to assess complex cases, interpret environmental laws, and manage compliance processes effectively.
• Professional approach to enforcement, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to engage with stakeholders to uphold regulations.
• * A full valid driver’s licence is required.
• What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:
• The salary range for this role is between $75,650 and $89,000 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Other benefits of working for our team include

•        Flexible working options to support work/life balance

•        5 weeks annual leave after 3 years

•        Life insurance and income protection

•        Subsidised eye tests and lenses, flu vaccinations, and other well-being initiatives

•        Strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a supportive working environment.

See a full list of our staff benefits here

As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. We recognise that collaborative and innovative organisations depend on having a workforce made up from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. We're all about excellence, and we encourage open communication – if you need any specific support, just let us know! Our main goal is to empower each person to share their unique talents to contribute to the outcomes for our community. This commitment ensures that our workplace is a dynamic and progressive space where everyone can flourish.

HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

How to apply | I pēhea ki te whakauru:

Applications close Thursday, 8 October 2026, however we will be shortlisting and interviewing appropriate candidates as applications are received. If you are interested in this position, please do not wait to apply as we may close the ad earlier than advertised.

Applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

To view the job description please visit our website.

Please apply through Seek. If you require any further information please email [email protected].

About us | E pā ki a mātou:

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Te kounga o te wai, te haumarutanga me te mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi o te whakamarutanga | Water quality, safety and climate-resilient security.

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua | Climate-smart and sustainable land use.

Kia ora, kia āhei, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki te rerenga rauropi | Healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity.

Kia toitū, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki ngā ratonga me ngā hanganga ā-whare | Sustainable and climate-resilient services and infrastructure.