Northland Regional Council’s role is to care for and protect Te Taitokerau Northland's environment and communities. Does that resonate with you?

Ko te aha ā mātou mahi? / What work do we do?

We work together with tangata whenua and communities to care for the incredible environment and many communities in our rohe, matching our skills and resources with the visions and aspirations of our people. We work to protect and restore healthy waters and our native taonga, through meaningful partnerships with tangata whenua and communities, and to build more resilient and adaptable communities in a changing climate. Here at Te Kaunihera ā rohe o Te Taitokerau | NRC, your mahi makes a real difference to our communities.

Toitū te whenua, toitū te moana, toitū te tangata. If the land is well, if the sea is well, the people will thrive.   

Te āheinga / The opportunity

Are you passionate about protecting the environment and ensuring compliance with regional regulations? This is your chance to make a meaningful impact. Join our dedicated team as a Farm Monitoring Officer, where you'll help safeguard Te Taitokerau’s natural resources while building valuable experience in environmental monitoring and stakeholder engagement.

This fixed-term role covers a parental leave period through to early July 2026. Within the team, we manage all regional monitoring and incident response for farming related activities in Te Taitokerau. You’ll be responsible for monitoring farm dairy effluent systems, silage storage sites, and other related activities to ensure compliance with resource consents, regional rules, and national regulations. Your work will involve conducting site inspections, collecting environmental samples, liaising with farmers and the public, recording and reporting findings, and addressing non-compliance where necessary.

You’ll also assist with education and engagement for farmers and key stakeholders such as Fonterra, DairyNZ, and Federated Farmers to promote sustainable practices. As part of our 24/7 Environmental Hotline, you’ll participate in a roster to respond to incidents promptly—even outside regular hours.

If you're ready to contribute to environmental sustainability and work alongside a passionate team, we’d love to hear from you.

He kōrero mōu / About you

We are looking for someone who can bring the following skills, knowledge, personal qualities and experience to our diverse team:

• A tertiary qualification relevant to the purpose of the position (i.e. a science-based discipline) and/or suitable experience and knowledge of farm management systems.
• Ability to manage difficult conversations and relate to a range of personalities.
• Full Drivers Licence
• Displays cultural empathy and awareness.
• Sound knowledge of regional council Resource Management Act monitoring functions.
• Previous experience in the implementation of environmental monitoring programmes.
• Experience in working with the Resource Management Act 1991.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft systems e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook.
• Proficient in the use of databases.

We understand that sometimes the right person doesn't ‘tick all the boxes'. If you feel that you have something to offer, but may not fully meet all the job criteria described, please don’t hesitate to apply, and we’ll consider all your talents.

Ko te aha ngā painga o te mahi kei konei? / What are the benefits of working here?

Just as you care about your community and environment, NRC cares about you and your wellbeing. Our organisation celebrates collective efforts and achievements and recognises every individual for their contributions and dedication to their mahi.

We understand the importance of flexibility, so we’re committed to alternative working arrangements for our staff. We offer a range of flexible work arrangements to suit our people’s varied lifestyles, commitments and cultural needs.

Tono mai / Apply

The mahi we do really makes a difference, so if you are motivated to help nurture our region’s taiao, we are keen to learn more about you. Want to have a kōrero with us first, or just need more information? If so, contact our Compliance Monitoring Manager – Compliance Industries, Zivana Hall (zivanah@nrc.govt.nz). To view the job description, visit our careers site where the following link will work: JD: Farm Monitoring Officer

Applications close on 14 January 2026

Please note as our team will be on leave over the Christmas period, any enquiries made after 23 December 2025 will be replied to after 12 January 2026. Interviews for this role are expected to be scheduled towards the end of January. Please note we will not accept email applications.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency/citizenship, or a valid NZ work visa.