Kaihautū Hoahoa Pūnaha | Principal Analyst Partnership Innovation & Systems Design
Environment Canterbury
Kaihautū Hoahoa Pūnaha | Principal Analyst Partnership Innovation and Systems Design
Design and embed systems that turn Tiriti partnership into everyday practice across a complex public sector organisation.
• Lead systems design that embeds Tiriti commitments into daily practice
• Co-design practical, scalable ways of working with Papatipu Rūnanga
• Influence how Environment Canterbury operates as a Tiriti partner
Mō te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury
Waitaha Canterbury- our region - is like no other and we are proud to call it home. We have the privilege of working with Papatipu Rūnanga, stakeholders and our wider community to protect our environment, including water, land and air through regulation and planning. As a Regional Council, we're responsible for flood protection, public transport, civil defence, and more.
Together we're taking action to shape a thriving and resilient Waitaha Canterbury, now and for future generations. Toitū te marae o Tāne, toitū te marae o Tangaroa, toitū te tangata; if the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive.
Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role
This senior technical role sits within the Pou Hononga team and plays a key role in leading codesigned, creative approaches to partnership innovation and systems design. The role provides high quality, timely and practical advice that helps Environment Canterbury test new ways of working and embed those approaches into business as usual in support of Tiriti partnership outcomes.
You’ll work closely with Papatipu Rūnanga and colleagues across the organisation to design, trial, and refine systems, processes, and tools that improve how partnership outcomes are delivered and sustained over time.
Key accountabilities:
• Lead the design and development of kaupapa Māori aligned partnership systems, frameworks, and tools
• Co-design and trial innovative approaches with Papatipu Rūnanga and organisational teams to support consistent ways of working
• Support the transition of successful partnership initiatives from pilot into business-as-usual practice
• Provide trusted technical advice to senior leaders and the Executive team on partnership systems, innovation, and change
• Strengthen organisational capability to operate confidently and consistently as a Tiriti partner
For more information on this role, please refer to the job description at the bottom of the advert.
Mōu │ About You
You are a creative systems thinker and a practical change agent. You are comfortable working in complexity and ambiguity, and you know how to design and implement new ways of working that people can actually use.
You bring a strong grounding in te ao Māori and are confident working in partnership with Papatipu Rūnanga. You understand how to co-design in ways that respect mātauranga Māori, uphold tikanga, and produce durable outcomes.
You may be a great fit if you have:
• Experience working with iwi, hapū, or Māori organisations in partnership or co-design settings
• Demonstrated ability to lead or contribute to innovation, systems change, or transformation work
• Confidence designing and testing new approaches, then embedding them into business as usual
• Strong judgement and the ability to influence senior leaders and diverse stakeholders
• Knowledge of Ngāi Tahu context is desirable. Commitment to te reo Māori me ōna tikanga is important.
Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience
You will have experience working in complex organisational systems and be confident leading codesigned approaches that translate kaupapa Māori principles into practical partnership systems and ways of working. You will have a track record of designing, testing, and embedding new approaches that require both strategic thinking and cultural competence.
To enjoy this role you’ll have:
• Strong understanding of kaupapa Māori systems design, innovation, or transformation in practice
• Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to initiatives that move from concept or pilot into business as usual
• Familiarity with local or central government environments, including policy, regulatory, and governance settings
Ngā hua o te mahi i te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Working at Environment Canterbury
Our mahi is underpinned by our values:
• Kaitiakitanga (stewardship)
• Pononga (integrity)
• Manaakitanga (people first)
• Whanaungatanga (collaboration)
• Māiatanga (can do)
We understand and embrace a diverse workforce; this diversity will enable us to better serve our people, our community, and our greatest taonga, the environment. We value everyone’s contribution, diverse thinking, and skills.
We're on a journey to become a Tiriti partner of excellence, including incorporating te ao Māori into our work. We offer supportive opportunities to develop capability in this area and encourage our people to use kaupapa Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori in our daily work. We welcome you with an open heart & mind, wherever you are on your personal te ao Māori journey.
Ko ētahi atu kōrero | Additional Information
For a confidential chat about this role, please contact talent team recruitment@ecan.govt.nz
Applications close on Sunday, 15 February. Applications will be reviewed as we receive them, and interviews may take place before the close date. We reserve the right to close advertising early.
Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks, and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role.
We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.
Me mahi tahi tātou - Together we can
