Programme Director | Waitaha Canterbury Regional Spatial Plan Help shape the future of Waitaha Canterbury Across our rohe, councils, mana whenua, communities, infrastructure providers and government agencies are preparing for significant change. New planning legislation will introduce a Regional Spatial Plan for Canterbury, creating a significant opportunity to influence how our region grows, connects and thrives for generations to come. We are seeking an exceptional leader to join this transformative journey as the Programme Director, Waitaha Canterbury Regional Spatial Plan. This is a full-time, fixed-term opportunity for approx 24 months to lead one of the most significant planning initiatives Canterbury has seen in decades. Working across organisational and geographic boundaries, you will bring people together, navigate complexity and provide the leadership and programme management needed to deliver a coordinated regional planning programme that supports sustainable growth and long-term wellbeing. Mō te Tūranga | About the Role As Programme Director, you will provide independent leadership for the establishment and delivery of the Waitaha Canterbury Regional Spatial Plan. Working alongside participating councils, mana whenua partners, government agencies, technical experts and stakeholders, you will turn strategic objectives into a well-coordinated and achievable programme of work.

Key responsibilities include:

Being accountable to and providing strategic advice to governance bodies, Chief Executives and senior leaders. Leading the establishment and delivery of the Regional Spatial Plan programme. Developing governance, reporting, risk and assurance frameworks. Building trusted relationships across councils, mana whenua and strategic partners. Coordinating multiple workstreams and specialist inputs. Driving alignment and momentum across a complex multi-agency environment Mōu | About You You will be a highly experienced leader with a strong background in planning, local government and programme delivery. You'll be comfortable navigating ambiguity, influencing without authority and bringing people together to achieve shared outcomes. To succeed in this role, you'll bring: Significant experience leading large-scale, complex programmes involving multiple organisations and stakeholders. A strong background in local government, spatial planning, strategic planning, growth management, infrastructure, policy or a related field. Exceptional programme and project management capability.