Posted 16 July, 2026
Senior Survey Officer
Environment Canterbury
Christchurch, CAN, NZ
Full Time
Reference: 5e5f45dba0876f39
Job Description
Enjoy a diverse mix of field and office work Work in outstanding locations throughout the Canterbury Region Contribute to flood protection and environmental monitoring work As a regional council, we are responsible for managing natural resources including air, soil, water and land. We work in partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our region. The region’s evolving environmental and political context means we will continue to be agile and adaptive, as we respond to regulatory and environmental changes. Our mahi (work) is organised around the delivery of our three core services: Environmental Regulation and Protection Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards Public Transport Council plays an important role in responding to national legislation and policy changes – this mahi is part of our operating environment and is embedded in our everyday mahi. The current proposals from central government are significant, and Council is working through the opportunities and implications. However, our mahi must continue to deliver our three core services for our partners, communities and te taiao (environment). Environment Canterbury’s Survey Team are involved with a wide range of topographical and engineering survey work throughout the Canterbury region contributing to the work of the Rivers Section, the Natural Hazards Team, and the wider organisation by providing quality survey data, plans and reports for the purpose of monitoring change to our coastlines, for river flood protection and gravel management, and for engineering and construction projects. You’ll be working within a small team, often in remote areas and outside of normal business hours, and, when appropriate, working alone. You’ll occasionally be required to stay away overnight as and when the work dictates. You’ll be working within a well‑resourced team using a range of modern survey instruments, software and equipment to support the work, and no two days will be the same. You’ll have a tertiary qualification in surveying or a relevant field (e.g. civil engineering or environmental science), and practical experience collecting and processing survey data using modern survey equipment and software. You’ll bring a problem‑solving mindset to your work in the field and office, have attention to detail when collecting survey data and preparing plans and reports and have a focus on delivering high‑quality results within allocated timeframes. You’ll be comfortable working in and around rivers and coastal areas, and will enjoy the challenges of working in remote areas, sometimes alone. A full class 1 driver’s license is essential. Ideally, you’ll have the following: 7 years of experience in land surveying or a related field Demonstrated experience leading others in the field Ability to process data and produce reports and drawings to a high standard Aptitude for problem solving when using survey equipment and software applications A sound knowledge of some of the following: GPS and Total Station systems Drones for aerial photogrammetry and LiDAR Echosounder systems of bathymetric survey 12d Model software Trimble Business Centre software Pix4D Mapper AutoCAD/Civil 3D/ArcGIS Our mahi is underpinned by our values: 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 treaty 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. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr