Senior Technical Advisor at Taumata Arowai, Auckland

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Location: Wellington or Auckland 
• Work Type: Permanent, full-time (40 hours per week) 
• Business Group: Operations 
• Salary: $117,442 - $130,491 - $150,065 

Help shape the future of safe drinking water in Aotearoa as a Senior Technical Advisor with the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai. 

Ko wai mātou | About us  

The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai is the water services regulator for Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a Crown entity governed by a Minister-appointed Board and advised on Māori interests and knowledge by Te Puna, a statutory Māori Advisory Group. Our responsibilities are to protect and promote drinking water safety and related public health outcomes - we regulate drinking water suppliers on behalf of the public. We also have an oversight role in relation to the environmental performance of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater networks. 

If you're a passionate and driven individual who shares our vision for making water safe every day for everyone, then join us and be part of making a difference. 

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role 

Our Senior Technical Advisors contribute technical advice and thought leadership on drinking water, wastewater and stormwater across the Authority, this includes contributing towards building capability across the Operations Group and the wider organisation. 

As one of our four Senior Technical Advisors you will 

• Provide technical analysis and advice into the development of guidance, training, and systems to support the delivery of safe drinking water by suppliers 

• Provide timely and fit for purpose technical leadership, and review for projects and other matters as they arise 

• Use data and insights to inform advice and approaches to monitoring and intervention of water service providers 

• Support drinking water emergency responses as required 

• Connect and collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders to build capability and achieve positive outcomes for the Authority and New Zealand 

Innovation and creativity are key drivers in the way we work - our size requires us to be smart and agile. 

Ko koe tēnei | About you 

The successful candidate will have: 

• Demonstrated operational experience  

• working in large council drinking water supplies with both groundwater and surface water sources, navigating operational risks to drinking water safety or; 

• as an engineer working for engineering consultancies advising councils, with experience designing, commissioning, and optimising drinking water treatment plants and/or networks. 

• A relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. a degree in engineering, science, public/environmental health or water discipline) or a level 4 drinking water treatment qualification with 10+ years of experience in the water sector  

• An excellent understanding of the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules  

• Significant and extensive operational knowledge and understanding of drinking water systems 

• Proven ability to assess and advise a range of approaches in the specialist areas of drinking water supply risk management, drinking water systems operation, treatment processes, drinking water system failures and/or operational responses. 

• Knowledge of stormwater and wastewater operations (preferred) 

To learn more about working at the Authority, please visit our Ngā Mahi | Careers Page 

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply 
Applications must be submitted via our Talent Portal.

Rā Katinga | At this stage, applications will be accepted up until 9:00am Wednesday 28 January 2026.  

We will be reviewing applications as we receive them with interviews starting in mid-January, please do not wait to apply. 

You must have a legal right to work in New Zealand.