Principal Planner - Dunedin
About this role
About the business and the role
Do you believe you can make the world a better place?
SLR Consulting is a global multi-disciplinary consultancy centred on environment & sustainability and operates across more than 120 countries. Our purpose is Making Sustainability Happen, which we achieve by having a team of experts who partner with our clients to tackle some of the world’s most complex sustainability challenges.
We are looking for a Principal Planner to join our Southern Planning team which extends across our Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin offices.
Based in Ōtepoti Dunedin, you'll have the autonomy to influence projects of regional significance, while being supported by a national team of 60 planning professionals. Ōtepoti Dunedin offers the opportunity to build a rewarding career while enjoying an exceptional lifestyle. With easy access to world-class outdoor recreation, a vibrant cultural scene and strong sense of community, it's an ideal location for professionals looking to make a meaningful impact whilst maintaining work-life balance.
In this role, you'll lead complex planning and policy projects, work alongside some of New Zealand's leading environmental specialists, and help grow our presence across local government, infrastructure, renewables, and development sectors.
Key responsibilities include:
Project Leadership - Lead complex planning, policy, and consenting projects across a diverse client portfolio.
Client Growth - Develop trusted advisor relationships and identify opportunities to expand SLR's presence across key sectors.
Technical Excellence - Provide high-level planning expertise and strategic advice to clients and project teams.
People Leadership - Mentor and develop planners across the Southern region and wider national team.
Quality Assurance - Undertake technical reviews and ensure consistently high standards of project delivery.
Collaboration - Work closely with SLR's multidisciplinary specialists to deliver integrated solutions for clients.
About You
You are an experienced planning professional who combines technical excellent with strong commercial and relationship-building capability. You enjoy leading complex projects, mentoring others, and helping clients navigate challenging planning environments.
Ideally, you will bring:
A qualification in Resource Management Planning or other relevant discipline
Full NZPI membership, or the ability to achieve it.
Approximately 8+ years of NZ planning experience within consultancy, local government, or a related environment.
Demonstrated experience leading complex planning, policy, and/or consenting projects.
Strong client relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
Experience working within multidisciplinary project teams.
A commercial mindset and ability to identify new opportunities.
A collaborative and supportive leadership style
Our Benefits
We are proud of our unique culture where we work together to collaborate on projects to get the best possible outcome for our clients. SLR supports flexible working arrangements as we recognise that every person is different, and our benefits aim to ensure that we cater for all.
You can find a comprehensive list here.
Next Steps
We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion. Please note that interviews are conducted with gender diverse interview panels to the best of our ability. When you apply, please feel free to tell us the pronouns you use and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.
Unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies will not be accepted. You must be part of the preferred supplier agreement list which is coordinated through our Talent Acquisition team.
#LI-NH1
Company at a glance
SLR is a committed partner in our clients’ sustainability journeys.
We help them move from influence to impact, turning intent into purposeful, practical action that delivers real-world results.
Guided by our philosophy of Rational Sustainability, we focus on what truly drives long-term value. By viewing decisions through the lenses of risk, reward, and resilience, we help clients act with confidence, balancing environmental and social responsibility with commercial and strategic success.
Our purpose - Making Sustainability Happen - means delivering outcomes that are grounded in evidence, shaped by experience, and built to last.
SLR has been advising clients for over 30 years at every point of their project life-cycle. Starting as a UK business, we now operate as a global company with more than 4,500 people delivering client solutions across six regions. We have grown both organically and through welcoming other like-minded businesses with a similar One Team culture into the SLR group. We are ably supported by our principal investor, Ares Management, and will continue to build a balanced, successful and growing business.
We’ve designed working life at SLR to look a little different. Because we know talented people often feel restricted by the rigid systems, lack of cross-functional collaboration and limited options for growth on offer elsewhere.
Our One Team culture promotes meaningful professional and personal growth, our flat management structure provides many opportunities to progress, and our collaborative approach means you’ll get the chance to work on projects you care about and make a real difference.
If you’re purpose-driven, self-motivated and keen to make an impact on a global scale, we want to hear from you.
Top Benefits
- Flexible Working Arrangements
Tired of cold applications?
Sign up with Clera and we'll reach out the moment a role actually fits you — no more spraying applications into the void.
Know someone who'd be great for this?