Landfill Operations and Assets Manager, Wellington
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Wellington City Council

Landfill Operations and Assets Manager

  • Posted Today
  • On Site
  • Full Time

Wellington

Job Description

Kia mahi ngātahi mō Pōneke mō tōna āpōpō | Working together for Wellington's future

Our Waste Infrastructure & Services team is responsible for ensuring Wellington’s waste facilities and assets are safe, compliant, resilient and able to meet the needs of our city now and into the future.


We’re looking for an experienced strategic leader to join our team as Manager, Landfill Assets and Operations. This is a key leadership role providing oversight of Council’s active and closed landfill assets and ensuring operations are safe, compliant, effective and aligned with Council’s organisational expectations.


You’ll lead a capable operational team, creating a strong culture of accountability, safety, collaboration and continuous improvement. You’ll provide strategic oversight of operational performance, health and safety, environmental compliance, asset risks and contractor delivery, ensuring issues are identified early, managed effectively and escalated when required.


Working across Council, you’ll help ensure landfill assets are well managed over their lifecycle, operational risks are understood and controlled, and investment and maintenance decisions support long-term service, environmental and financial outcomes.


Āu ake mahi | What you’ll do

  • Lead and develop a high-performing team with a strong focus on safety, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
  • Provide strategic oversight of landfill operations, ensuring services are delivered safely, effectively and consistently.
  • Ensure operational risks are identified, assessed and actively managed, with appropriate escalation of significant or emerging issues.
  • Lead a strong health, safety and risk culture across Council teams, contractors and operational partners.
  • Ensure active and closed landfill assets are managed in accordance with resource consents, regulatory requirements and Council expectations.
  • Provide oversight of environmental compliance, monitoring, reporting and corrective actions.
  • Lead the operational management and lifecycle planning of landfill assets, including maintenance, renewals, capital works, closure and aftercare.
  • Use asset, operational and compliance information to identify risks, trends and opportunities for improvement.
  • Provide oversight of operational contractors, ensuring performance, safety, compliance and service expectations are met.
  • Work with internal teams to ensure operational requirements inform asset planning, investment and long-term decision-making.
  • Manage operational and capital budgets and identify opportunities to improve revenue, efficiency, value for money and long-term asset performance.
  • Build effective relationships with regulators, Mana Whenua, contractors, technical specialists and community stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the Waste Services leadership team and support a consistent approach to organisational priorities, risk management and service delivery.


Ngā tohu me ngā wheako | Qualifications and experience

We’re looking for an experienced operational leader with a strong understanding of regulated infrastructure, asset management and operational risk.


You’ll bring:

  • Significant experience leading complex operational environments, ideally within waste, infrastructure, environmental services, utilities or a similar regulated environment.
  • Strong people leadership experience, with a track record of building capable, accountable and engaged teams.
  • Strong knowledge and experience in health and safety, operational risk and regulatory compliance.
  • Experience overseeing asset management, maintenance, renewals and capital works across complex infrastructure.
  • Knowledge of environmental compliance, resource consents and regulatory requirements.
  • Experience managing contractors, operational performance and service delivery expectations.
  • Strong financial and commercial awareness, including experience managing operational and capital budgets.
  • The ability to use operational, asset and compliance information to identify risks and inform decision-making.
  • Strong relationship management skills, including the ability to work effectively with regulators, contractors, technical specialists and community stakeholders.


Experience in landfill operations, local government or another complex public sector environment would be advantageous, along with a relevant tertiary qualification in engineering, infrastructure, environmental management, operations or a related discipline.


Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including 5 weeks annual leave, flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, Council staff discounts and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities.

View our Employee Value Proposition Video to see what our employees say about working at WCC.


Applications close 27 October 2026. All applications must be submitted online and must have the current right to live and work in New Zealand.


Pre-employment checks

This is a safety-sensitive role. Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete pre-employment drug and alcohol, and criminal conviction checks.

The Council uses the AS/NZ drug standard to determine the cut off levels for drug testing. Some prescription drugs may be included within this standard.


Kanorautanga | Diversity

We want your application to enable you to portray the real you. Skills are gained across many areas of our lives, not just through formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the advert through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering), we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

We welcome applications from all people and want our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve.


Tautoko mō te Whai Wāhi | Accessibility Support

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone. Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support you need to participate in the recruitment process.

Desired Hard Skills

  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Asset Management
  • Operational Risk Management
  • Budget Management
  • Health and Safety Management

Desired Soft Skills

  • Collaboration
  • Accountability
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Leadership
  • Relationship Management

Benefits & Perks

Culture

  • 🤱 Extended Parental Leave
  • 🏛 Fully Paid Jury Service
  • 🏘 Work from Home
  • 🧕 Inclusive Workspace
  • ❤ Care and Appreciation
  • ⚖ Work-Life Balance Support
  • 🧠 Mental Health Workshops
  • 💚 Counselling Services
  • 💪 Physical Health Workshops
  • 🌿 Wellness Program
  • 🏥 Subsidised Health Insurance
  • 📈 Professional Development
  • 🏎 Competitive Salary
  • 🎉 Employee Discounts and Rewards
  • 🎖 Long Service Rewards
  • 💻 Company Supplied Technology
  • ⏰ Flexible Work
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  • 🧠 Neurodiverse
  • 💰 Wage Equality
  • 🏃 Women Leadership
  • 👩 Woman CEO
  • 💸 Living Wage
  • 🤝 Unionisation
  • 🙌 Community Focused
  • 🌐 INZ Accredited Employer
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