Shaping our future | Kōmiria te anamata

Nelson City Council is undertaking one of the most significant local government transformations in New Zealand. Through Shaping Our Future, we’re organising ourselves around the people and communities we serve, getting clearer about who does what, and investing in the capability we need for the years ahead. We’re also working more closely with iwi, neighbouring councils and other partners to deliver better outcomes for Whakatū Nelson. Our new structure is in place, and we’re now recruiting for the roles that will bring it to life.

You’ll be part of one of Council’s most significant and visible programmes, shaping the future of our forests and hill country reserves for recreation, biodiversity and generations to come.

About the role | Kō tēnei tūranga mahi

This new role sits in our Forest Transition & Hill Country Reserves business unit, reporting to the Manager Forest Transition & Hill Country Reserves. You’ll design and run the monitoring, spatial data and reporting systems that show how our forests, reserves and wider environment are changing, combining field science with remote sensing, GIS and UAV surveys. Most of your time (0.75 FTE) will support the Forest Transition & Hill Country Reserves programme, with the remainder (0.25 FTE) supporting wider environmental work in our Science & Environmental Policy business unit.

You will:

Design and implement environmental monitoring frameworks, including field-based ecological measurement, remote sensing and UAV survey programmes
Own and operate the programme’s spatial data infrastructure, including GIS, mapping and remote sensing workflows
Apply advanced statistical methods to identify trends, assess programme performance and inform adaptive management
Build data pipelines, dashboards and visualisation tools that make complex data clear for a range of audiences
Prepare monitoring, performance, governance and funding reports for regulators, funders, certification auditors and senior leaders
Set and maintain data quality standards so environmental data is traceable and audit-ready
Provide specialist technical input across Science & Environmental Policy programmes, including methodology development and peer review

About you | Ko ngā pūmanawa ō

You’re a technically strong environmental data specialist who is just as comfortable designing a field sampling programme as building a dashboard. You care about data integrity, enjoy turning complex datasets into insight people can act on, and can explain your findings credibly to technical and non-technical audiences alike. You work well independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

You will bring:

A tertiary qualification in environmental science, ecology, geography, data science, statistics or a related discipline (postgraduate study or equivalent specialist experience is an advantage)
Experience designing and implementing environmental monitoring and evaluation systems in land management, conservation, forestry or natural resource settings
Advanced GIS skills (ArcGIS, QGIS or equivalent), hands-on UAV/drone experience and working knowledge of remote sensing
Strong statistical and scripting skills in R, Python or similar
Experience building dashboards and data visualisation tools
Proven ability to prepare high-quality technical, funding and governance reports
Experience maintaining data management and quality assurance systems where data is subject to external audit
A full current New Zealand driver licence

What we offer | Ko ngā painga mōu

Supportive, empowering leadership that backs you to do your best work
Wellbeing leave, platforms and initiatives
Fully subsidised health insurance
Generous leave provisions
Learning and professional development opportunities
A range of employee benefits and discounts
Meaningful work that shapes our community’s future
Mountains, beaches and national parks on your doorstep

At Nelson City Council, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and has a true sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from diverse ethnicities and cultures, LGBTQ+ communities, neurodivergent individuals, and people with disabilities. If you require any assistance with your application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Applications close | Rā whakakapi

Midnight on Monday 9 November 2026.

For further enquiries | Ina he pātai anō, whakapā mai

Please reach out to James Griffiths, Forest Systems Manager on james.griffiths@ncc.govt.nz

Monitoring & Reporting Specialist (Forest & Environment)