Strategic Advisory Opportunity | Christchurch

• Play a key role in shaping how risk, assurance and resilience are embedded across the organisation
• Partner with leaders to lift capability and influence decision-making
• Central city location 

The Opportunity
 
Environment Canterbury operates within a complex and highly visible environment, balancing public accountability, environmental stewardship and organisational resilience.
 
This is a newly reset role, created following a deliberate review of how risk, assurance and business continuity are delivered across the organisation. The focus now is on embedding practical, organisation-wide capability rather than maintaining centralised processes.
 
Reporting to the Manager Risk, Assurance and Security, you will work across functions to strengthen how risk is understood, applied and integrated into decision-making.
 
This is a role for someone who enjoys working alongside leaders - influencing, coaching and enabling - rather than operating as a purely technical specialist.
 
You'll be responsible for:

• Leading the ongoing development and embedding of the Risk Management Framework across the organisation
• Partnering with leaders and teams to lift capability in risk identification, assessment and decision-making
• Enhancing the quality and impact of risk reporting to support ELT and Audit & Risk Committee insights
• Establishing and embedding a practical, fit-for-purpose business continuity programme
• Supporting assurance activity, including internal audit planning and control design
• Contributing to the organisation's understanding and oversight of security risk
• Building trusted relationships across the organisation to influence, challenge and support effective practice

This is a role that requires judgement, curiosity and an improvement mindset, alongside the ability to operate comfortably within established governance frameworks and delegated authority settings. An understanding of the expectations within a ratepayer-funded environment, where financial stewardship, process integrity and political awareness matter, will be important.
 
About You
 
You're an experienced professional who is as comfortable working alongside people as you are working with frameworks. You understand risk management in practice and enjoy helping others apply it in a way that is useful, not theoretical.

• Proven experience in risk management within a complex organisation
• Sound understanding of risk frameworks, assurance practices and governance environments
• Experience developing or implementing business continuity programmes
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complexity into clear and practical insights
• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence at all levels
• A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach with a focus on implementation
• Strong analytical capability and attention to detail
• Experience in public sector or local government environments will be advantageous

Most importantly, you're someone who brings a balanced approach - someone who can move beyond theory and embed practices that genuinely improve how the organisation operates.
 
A competitive salary is offered along with flexible working arrangements and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful outcomes for the Canterbury region.
 
This is a role for someone who enjoys working across the organisation, influencing outcomes and shaping how risk and resilience are understood at a system level.
 
If you are ready to step into a role of influence and impact, we would welcome a confidential discussion. Contact Heather Ewing on 03 265 0667 or via email heather@bishopassociates.co.nz or click 'Apply' to express your interest.