Job Description

Our purpose | To tatou kaupapa

We are the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Aotearoa New Zealand’s independent environmental regulator. Our role is important: to help protect our country’s unique way of life by looking out for the health of its environment, its economy and its people.

Our kaupapa is about making the right decisions based on evidence, mātauranga, and science.

What we achieve today helps shape the future of New Zealand for generations to come.

About our team | Mō te roopu

The purpose of the People and Capability team is to deliver core people services to the EPA. We develop our people, capabilities, and culture to enable our people and the organisation to thrive.

This includes:

• Ensuring our people and practices are healthy and safe

• Leading organisational and culture change

• Leadership, learning and development initiatives

• Supporting our leaders to select, develop and manage high performing people

• Providing performance, reward and recognition frameworks and advice

• Creating a diverse and inclusive environment that reflects New Zealand and our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

About the role | Mō te tūnga

This is a hybrid / on-site role

We’re looking for someone to provide expert advice and technical leadership on Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HS&W) to all levels of the business. This is a varied, sole practitioner role that works closely with the Head of People & Capability and senior leaders to ensure risk is managed and health, safety, and wellbeing are integrated into our work functions.

Effective relationships arekey to this role. You’llbe responsible for coaching and mentoring our leaders and people to grow our HS&W maturity, providing risk management advice and support, developing H&S systems, processes, and initiatives that are applicablein our operational and regulatory context, monitoring and reporting, and undertaking audits and investigations

About you | Mōhou ake 

We’re looking for someone with a range of skills and experience. If you have some or all of the below, we would love to hear from you.

• Senior level experience in the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing field

• A strong customer and business partnership focus, with the ability to communicate effectively with a range of people

• Well-developed influencing, coaching, facilitation, and negotiation skills

• Demonstrated competence in health, safety and wellbeing strategies, plans and programmes, including learning

• Demonstrated competence in health and safety risk identification and management

• Strong problem-solving skills and results orientation

• A proven ability to effectively handle competing priorities and tight timeframes

• Sound judgement, professionalism, and integrity

What’s in it for you | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

There are extra benefits to working at the EPA:

• flexible working culture

• three additional paid leave days between Christmas and New Years in addition to four weeks’ annual leave

• $400 gross payment to help you set up working at home

• an annual paid EPA Environment Day to support the community with environmental initiatives

• in-house Māori cultural capability building programme

• learning opportunities, including the annual EPA Symposium

• active and lively social club, and diverse groups and support networks

• EPA awards recognising individual and team effort

• relocation help for those moving to New Zealand from overseas.

Salary range

$103,473- $155,209 per annum (midpoint $129,341).

This is the full salary range. Appointments are made within the range depending on skills and experience. An appointment at the midpoint assumes full competency in the role, with the full band covering a range of 80% - 120%.

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono

Complete the online application form and submit your CV (please note a cover letter is not necessary but welcomed if you would like to submit one).

Complete the online application form and submit your CV and a covering letter.

Please note: your covering letter is an important part of our assessment process. Please highlight how your experience relates to this role, and why you applied. Tell us about you, your values and/or whakapapa.

View the

For more information, please contact recruit@epa.govt.nzor check out the careers section of our website www.epa.govt.nz/careers

We are open to supporting inter agency secondments. If possible, please discuss the prospect of joining us with your current manager, before submitting your application.

Applications close | Rā Katinga

5pm, Tuesday 27 January 2026.

We will review applications as they are submitted and may begin our selection process prior to the end of the application stage.