Title:  Environmental Lead - North Island

• Lead practical environmental compliance, risk management and capability across KiwiRail’s North Island operations, projects and sites.

• Permanent full-time role

• Location is flexible within the North Island

Position Description

He kōrero mō mātou | About us

KiwiRail connects communities and moves freight and passengers across Aotearoa New Zealand. For more than 150 years, rail has supported the country’s economic, social and environmental wellbeing. Our purpose, Hononga Whaikaha, Oranga mō Aotearoa – Stronger Connections, Better New Zealand – guides how we create value for our customers, communities and people.

He whakamārama mō te tūranga | About the role

This senior, hands-on role provides environmental leadership across North Island operations, projects and sites. You will work with business units and support functions to identify and manage environmental risk, meet legal and consent obligations, and put practical controls in place to avoid or minimise environmental effects.

You will lead the North Island Environmental Advisors, setting priorities and allocating work while providing technical oversight, quality assurance, coaching and career development. You will also coordinate assurance activities and responses to significant environmental incidents and non-compliances, ensuring investigations, corrective actions, reporting and lessons learned are completed and recorded.

A key focus will be supporting the development and implementation of KiwiRail’s enterprise-wide Environmental Management System aligned with ISO 14001, improving environmental data and information management, and building environmental capability across the business.

In this role, you will:

• Manage environmental risks and compliance responsibilities across North Island operations, projects and sites.

• Lead responses to significant environmental incidents and potential consent non-compliances, including investigation, corrective actions, regulator reporting and communication of lessons learned.

• Oversee environmental inspections, audits and control verifications, with actions assigned, tracked and completed.

• Provide clear, practical advice on environmental management plans, risk assessments and controls.

• Partner with operational, engineering, project delivery and support teams to make sound, timely and proportionate decisions.

• Lead, coach and develop the North Island Environmental Advisors, including work allocation, prioritisation and quality oversight.

• Build trusted relationships with councils, regulators, mana whenua, iwi representatives, consultants and other stakeholders.

• Coordinate training, toolbox talks, guidance and communications that improve environmental awareness and practice.

• Manage consultants and contractors to deliver quality environmental outcomes within agreed budgets and timeframes.

Ngā pūkenga e rapu nei mātou | What you will bring

You are an experienced environmental leader who can move confidently between strategic priorities, technical detail and practical site-based delivery. You build credible relationships, make risk-based decisions and help others turn environmental requirements into workable actions.

• 10+ years’ experience in environmental compliance, risk management or a comparable senior environmental role, including significant people-management experience.

• Strong knowledge of New Zealand environmental legislation and experience working with regulatory authorities.

• Experience conducting audits, reviewing environmental management plans and leading responses to environmental incidents.

• Experience engaging with mana whenua and incorporating environmental and cultural values into project delivery.

• Demonstrated ability to influence technical, operational and project teams and build effective relationships at all organisational levels.

• Experience leading, coaching and developing environmental professionals.

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Resource Management or a related field.

• A current and valid New Zealand Driver Licence.

Travel and site requirements

The role requires regular travel to KiwiRail locations across the North Island, including occasional overnight stays. Travel is typically 1–2 days per month but may vary. You must be able to undertake site visits, use required personal protective equipment, and meet KiwiRail’s drug and alcohol screening requirements.

Kua rite? | Ready to make a difference?

If you want to lead practical environmental improvement across a complex, nationally significant transport network, we would like to hear from you. Apply to help KiwiRail strengthen environmental performance and create better outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Applications close: Monday 16th of November 2026