Senior Compliance Officer

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. At the EPA, we encourage big ideas and bold goals.  

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

Jump in the waka - make history with us. 

About our group | Mō te roopu 

Compliance, monitoring and enforcement (CME) is an integral part of the EPA’s work to protect the environment and the health outcomes of New Zealanders. Activities undertaken by the CME Group sit alongside decision-making and engagement and are fundamental to the overall strategic direction of the EPA.  

The Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Group helps everyone – from small businesses to big organisations - understand and comply with environmental regulations to help protect communities, the environment and people. 

We do this through educating, engaging, monitoring and investigating, and taking enforcement action when necessary. This approach benefits the environment, the economy and communities, and means we can focus our resources (including our enforcement powers) on tackling the most important environmental issues.  

Our multi-disciplinary team of compliance, monitoring and enforcement officers work together, supporting each other to carry out this essential role in maintaining and upholding New Zealand’s environmental regulatory regime for the good of all of Aotearoa today, and for future generations. 

About the role | Mō te tūnga  

 
We are looking for experienced regulatory practitioners to join our dynamic and dedicated team. We have compliance, monitoring and enforcement responsibilities under a range of environmental legislation, which provides a unique and exciting opportunity to use, broaden and grow your regulatory compliance skill set. Your knowledge and skills will help us support industries, organisations, and other regulated parties meet their compliance obligations, monitor compliance with those obligations, and undertake appropriate compliance interventions where non-compliance is identified.  

As a Senior Compliance Officer at the EPA, you will play a pivotal role in leading and enhancing our regulatory compliance, monitoring, and enforcement functions. In this dynamic and diverse role, you will provide high-quality technical and procedural advice, support compliance activities, and maintain professional relationships with regulated parties.  

You will take the lead in conducting inspections and investigations within technically challenging areas, including hazardous substances, ozone-depleting gases, and the emissions trading scheme. This role requires confidence and decisiveness in dynamic environments, along with the ability to apply sound judgment to your decision making and when navigating challenging situations. A commitment to adhering to health and safety protocols is essential. 

As a Senior, your leadership will be key in mentoring team members, developing processes, and ensuring quality assurance of outputs. You will also lead and contribute to projects aimed at enhancing and improving our internal systems and processes, enabling the EPA to deliver its regulatory functions effectively. 

This role is based in our Wellington office. While we're happy to consider work-from-home arrangements, this role is not designed for full-time remote working.