Manager Asset Services
 
Senior Leadership Opportunity | Christchurch | Shaping assets that shape a region

• Lead a diverse, high-value regional asset portfolio with genuine community impact
• Lift strategic asset management capability within a respected public sector organisation
• Senior leadership role with influence, autonomy and meaningful complexity

The Opportunity
 
Environment Canterbury stewards a diverse and strategically significant portfolio of property, reserve land, fleet vehicles and specialised plant across the region. These assets enable essential public services, support environmental protection outcomes and generate commercial returns through land and lease arrangements.
 
This is not a traditional facilities management role. It is a broad senior leadership position responsible for strengthening long-term asset planning, lifting commercial discipline and ensuring assets are optimised within a fiscally responsible and politically aware public sector environment.
 
Reporting to the General Manager Finance and Assurance, you will lead the Asset Services team and provide organisation-wide input into asset-related risk, investment priorities and long-term sustainability. The portfolio includes custodial river land, commercially leased land, operational facilities and specialised plant and fleet - each with its own operational, financial and stakeholder complexity.
 
Success in this role will require you to balance operational ownership with strategic oversight. You will be comfortable ensuring day-to-day matters are well managed, while simultaneously raising the lens toward integrated asset planning, lifecycle optimisation and value-for-money outcomes.
 
The Manager Asset Services will:

• Provide strong and visible leadership to a capable Asset Services team, elevating strategic thinking and cross-functional alignment
• Develop and oversee integrated asset management plans across property, land, fleet and plant
• Drive value-for-money outcomes through sound commercial judgement, whole-of-life costing and disciplined investment thinking
• Lead procurement activity and contribute to robust business cases and capital planning processes
• Ensure assets are maintained, developed and managed across their full lifecycle and are fit for purpose
• Maintain proactive, transparent and no-surprises communication with the General Manager
• Build effective partnerships across Corporate Services, operational teams and governance stakeholders
• Uphold high health and safety standards across contractors, service providers and operational environments
• Contribute to Environment Canterbury's cultural capability journey and partnership commitments with Ngāi Tahu

This is a role that requires judgement. You will bring commercial curiosity and improvement focus, while working comfortably within established governance frameworks and delegated authority settings. You will understand that in a ratepayer-funded organisation, financial stewardship, process integrity and political awareness matter.
 
About You
 
You are a seasoned senior leader with depth across complex asset portfolios. You combine ownership, commercial acumen and emotional intelligence.
 
You will likely bring:

• Extensive senior management experience across asset, property, facilities or infrastructure portfolios
• Demonstrated success managing large and diverse asset bases in complex organisations
• Strong financial capability, including budgets, forecasting, investment planning and performance monitoring
• Experience delivering procurement processes, capital programmes and lifecycle planning initiatives
• A track record of leading and developing high-performing teams
• Confidence operating within governance and public sector environments
• The ability to balance autonomy with proactive communication and stakeholder alignment
• Sound judgement, resilience and calm decision-making in politically sensitive contexts
• Experience in local government, infrastructure or large public sector organisations will be advantageous.

Most importantly, you will bring a balanced lens - understanding long-term stewardship, commercial discipline and public accountability - and the ability to elevate both performance and capability within the team you lead.
 
A competitive salary is offered, along with flexible working options and the opportunity to make a visible regional impact through your leadership.
 
This is a role for a leader who enjoys complexity, thrives on variety and wants to shape how a significant regional asset portfolio is managed for the future.
 
If you are ready to step into a portfolio of genuine scale and influence, we would welcome a confidential discussion. Contact Heather Ewing on 03 265 0667 or click the 'Apply' button to express your interest in finding out more.