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.
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Skills Required
- Professional qualification in resource management planning or other relevant degree
- Obtained or working towards full NZPI membership
- 8-15+ years' experience in planning and resource management
- Experience as a mentor and/or coach to other consultants
- Strong client relationship management skills
- Demonstrated experience working in multidisciplinary project teams
- Detail focused with ability to complete tasks on time and to budget
- Effective communication with colleagues and clients
- Strong commercial acumen and ability to seek new opportunities
SLR Consulting Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SLR Consulting and has not been reviewed or approved by SLR Consulting.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is presented as comprehensive, including medical, dental, vision, and orthodontia with HSA/FSA options. Company‑paid life insurance, short‑ and long‑term disability, and an Employee Assistance Program further strengthen the core package.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) (or regional equivalent) with company matching is a standard component and is repeatedly listed across roles. This provides structured retirement support alongside core benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO accrual paired with a set of paid holidays is a recurring element, with some regions also offering buy/sell leave and enhanced family leave. These provisions signal meaningful time‑off flexibility in several markets.
SLR Consulting Insights
What We Do
SLR Consulting is a leading global environmental and sustainability advisory business dedicated to 'Making Sustainability Happen.' The company provides bespoke strategic and technical expertise to address complex environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges. It partners with clients across diverse sectors, including energy, infrastructure, and industrial technology, delivering tailored solutions across the full project lifecycle from strategy and design to compliance and remediation.
