Live and work in New Zealand’s spectacular Otago region

Looking for more than just your next engineering role?

Otago Regional Council (ORC) is offering an exceptional opportunity for an experienced flood hazard or water resources engineer to build their career while enjoying one of the world’s great outdoor environments.

Based in New Zealand’s South Island, Otago is known for its mountains, lakes, rivers, coastlines and vibrant communities. Whether you enjoy skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, surfing or simply spending more time outdoors, this is a chance to combine meaningful technical work with an outstanding quality of life.

We are seeking a Senior Flood Hazard Engineer to join our Natural Hazards team and help deliver flood risk management, river engineering and climate resilience projects across diverse catchments ranging from alpine rivers and braided systems through to urban and coastal floodplains.

Why make the move?

• Opportunity to live in one of New Zealand’s most scenic regions
• Career growth within a respected regional authority
• Diverse and technically interesting flood hazard projects
• Supportive and collaborative team culture
• Flexible 37.5-hour work week supporting genuine work-life balance
• Salary of NZD $105,000–$120,000 plus KiwiSaver contribution up to 5%

This role is ideal for an experienced senior engineer who enjoys hands-on technical work and is looking to further develop their technical and project leadership capability.

We welcome applications from candidates with relevant experience in comparable environments including Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Europe.

About the role

You’ll apply advanced hydraulic and hydrologic modelling expertise to real-world flood risk challenges that directly influence community resilience, infrastructure planning and climate adaptation outcomes.

Your work will include:

• Hydraulic and hydrologic modelling using HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS
• Flood hazard assessment and floodplain analysis
• River engineering and flood mitigation projects
• Climate adaptation and catchment management initiatives
• Flood forecasting and hydrological monitoring systems
• Technical input into planning, stakeholder engagement and project delivery

What you’ll bring

You’ll likely have:

• A degree in Civil, Environmental or related Engineering
• Around 5–10 years’ experience in flood hazard, hydraulic, hydrologic or water resources engineering
• Strong experience using HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS software
• Ability to translate modelling outputs into practical engineering solutions
• Understanding of river systems, floodplain processes and catchment management
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills

Experience with GIS and CAD software would also be advantageous.

Apply now

If you’re ready to combine meaningful flood hazard work with an exceptional New Zealand lifestyle, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications close 30 June 2026. Early applications are encouraged.

For a confidential discussion, contact Lisa Hulley at Peak Recruitment on +64 27 688 8831.

Otago Regional Council has engaged Peak Recruitment to manage the recruitment of this position, please direct all enquiries and applications to Peak Recruitment.