Senior Compliance Officer

- Strive to improve safety outcomes on our roads

- Continue to grow and develop your compliance skills and experience

- Permanent opportunity based in Christchurch

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity
We have an opportunity for a Senior Compliance Officer to join our team.
Our Compliance Teams are at the forefront of ensuring safe and lawful participation in New Zealand's land transport system. They deliver operational regulatory activities including audits, reviews, compliance monitoring, and investigations into breaches of legislation and regulatory requirements. By applying a risk-based approach and taking decisive action where safety standards are not met, the team helps protect the public, strengthen regulatory integrity, and ensure confidence in the transport system. This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that has a direct impact on road safety and public trust.
Responsibilities include:

- Undertaking proactive assessments of licensed commercial transport operators

- Applying relevant recognised risk assessment practices to investigation and auditing process

- Developing and managing effective relationships with assigned transport service licence holders and relevant key stakeholders

- Share expertise and mentor others within the Compliance teams, contributing to continuous improvement, consistent practice, and lifting overall regulatory capability
Travel is a key part of this role and you will be regularly engaging with operators in the Canterbury operating area as and when required. You must have a full driver licence, with no convictions.

You will find out more about the role here

We are seeking to appoint at a salary between $92,700 to $103,000 commensurate to skills and experience.

Ko koe tēnei | About you
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced regulator with understanding and knowledge of transport who is looking for their next challenge.  To be successful in this role, you will bring:

- Experience in complex audit and review management within a regulatory or enforcement environment

- Proven ability to gather, analyse, verify, and weigh information and evidence to support sound decision‑making in complex and high‑risk cases

- Have experience in assessment (audit) planning, delivery and reporting

- Strong attention to detail, with the ability to produce accurate, well‑reasoned documentation and briefs of evidence capable of withstanding legal scrutiny

- Experience designing and delivering training, safety education, and sector engagement activities to build compliance capability and support improved safety outcomes

- The ability to build relationships and appreciate different points of view

Qualifications:
Tertiary qualification or relevant experience in a regulatory compliance role
Demonstrated knowledge of, or a willingness to learn an understanding of Te Ao Māori and tikanga as well as to work towards fluency in Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public sector.

Ko wai mātou | About us
The Safer Commercial Transport team is responsible for regulating commercial transport operators: from heavy vehicles to small passenger services. We do this by monitoring our sector through audits, reviews and investigations and working with industry to drive best practice. The team regulates transport operators that have been licensed to operate as a transport service.

Ka whiwhi koe i te aha | What you will get in return
We care about our people and invest in supporting our staff at NZTA.  If you join us, you can expect:

- A supportive working environment

- Flexible working options

- A competitive salary package, aligned with your skills and experience

- 5 weeks annual leave and other great benefits .

Ready to take the next step in your career? We’d love to hear from you.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply:
Apply today by including a cover letter detailing why you are the ideal candidate for this role and attach along with your CV.

Rā Katinga | Applications close:
13 November 2026
For further information, email: careers@nzta.govt.nz

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.