Senior Planning Consultant

Role overview

Join the Environment and Society team in Aotearoa New Zealand as a Senior Planning Consultant, with a strong emphasis on consenting for infrastructure projects. This position is suited to someone who can lead planning work, support clients and stakeholders, and provide technical input across multidisciplinary project teams while continuing to build their career in a collaborative setting.

What the role involves

In this role, you will contribute to resource management planning services on a variety of projects across New Zealand. You will work with a good degree of independence, taking ownership of parts of planning assignments, helping shape consenting approaches, and offering practical planning guidance in complex project settings. You will partner with Principal Planning Consultants and Technical Directors, and also help develop junior planners and strengthen the capability of the wider team.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate and lead cross-functional teams delivering resource consent applications and other resource management approvals for projects in water, transport, energy, and the built environment.
• Draft, refine, and review planning documents to a consistently high professional standard.
• Provide well-informed planning input to project teams and help clients make sound decisions.
• Assist with consultation, stakeholder engagement, and liaison with regulators where needed.
• Coach early-career planners through technical supervision and everyday support.
• Spot new business prospects, prepare proposals, and take part in industry networking.
• Support project quality, scheduling, and risk control activities.
• Work in line with the PRIDE values and maintain a strong focus on safety, quality, and sustainable outcomes.

What you should bring

You should have a relevant tertiary qualification in planning, resource management, environmental studies, or a closely related field, along with mid-career experience of around 8+ years in environmental or infrastructure planning. This experience may have been gained in consulting, local government, or a similar professional environment.

A solid understanding of New Zealand’s planning framework, applicable legislation, and local and regional council resource management documents is important. You should also have experience contributing to, or leading parts of, complex planning approvals and infrastructure projects.

The role calls for someone who can work independently, collaborate well with senior colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, and communicate clearly in both writing and speech. A proactive, team-oriented approach and the ability to juggle competing priorities are essential. NZPI membership, or progress toward membership, would be an advantage.

Why consider this opportunity

• Competitive pay.
• Exposure to major infrastructure projects across Aotearoa.
• Room to deepen technical expertise and strengthen leadership skills without moving into a principal-level role immediately.
• A supportive planning discipline within a multidisciplinary consultancy.
• Flexible and agile working arrangements.
• A workplace culture guided by Progress, Respect, Integrity, Drive, and Excellence.
• Clear career pathways, including potential progression toward Principal roles over time.

Inclusion and equal opportunity

The organisation is committed to an inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds and experiences feel welcome, respected, and supported.

Employee ownership

• The business is employee-owned, with no external investors, which helps foster a shared-success culture.
• Employees have a stake and a voice in the company, linked to personal and group performance bonuses.
• As careers progress, employees can grow their stake, reflecting long-term contribution and impact.
• There are direct channels to connect with senior leadership and help influence the future of the business.

Benefits

• A flexible work environment that adapts to both professional needs and personal milestones.
• Competitive salary plus discretionary group and personal performance bonuses for eligible employees.
• Insurance coverage including life, personal accident, and salary continuance protection.
• The option to buy additional annual leave to improve work-life balance.
• Employee resource groups such as the Inclusive Network for Women and Corporate Social Responsibility communities.

Additional details

This employer supports diverse working arrangements and may consider part-time permanent or job-share options where possible. If you are interested in the role on a part-time permanent basis, you are encouraged to apply.

Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Contract type: Permanent. Work pattern: Full-time. Market: Environment and society. Discipline: Environment. Job reference: 14584. Recruiter contact: Matt McKenzie.