Principal Water Supply Modeller

Tau ake rā te moana nei, e papaki kau ana ki te ākau tangata, kakenga waka ka mauru te tohu ki te arearenga o Mauao, he pou herenga mōu, he pou hononga mōu, kia herea ki te tika, kia herea ki te pono. Kia mau, kia ita, kia ū – haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!

Te Tūranga | About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Principal Water Supply Modeller to provide technical leadership across water supply modelling for our City Waters Planning team. This role suits someone with deep hydraulic modelling expertise who can help shape how we plan, assess, and invest in Tauranga’s water supply network.

You’ll lead complex modelling work that supports growth planning, network resilience, operational performance, development assessments, and long-term infrastructure decisions. You’ll also make sure our models are accurate, well governed, and able to support clear, defensible advice for technical and non-technical audiences.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Providing principal-level technical leadership for water supply hydraulic modelling.
• Leading complex network assessments, including capacity, pressure, demand, fire flow, storage, transfer, outage, redundancy, and climate resilience scenarios.
• Setting modelling standards for model build, calibration, validation, scenario management, reporting, and handover.
• Turning modelling outputs into clear advice for structure planning, development assessments, business cases, renewals, upgrades, and long-term programmes.
• Reviewing assumptions, input data, GIS, telemetry, field testing information, and growth forecasts to improve model confidence and decision quality.
• Mentoring staff and consultants to strengthen internal modelling capability and consistency of technical delivery.

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

• A Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering, or another relevant tertiary qualification.
• At least 10 years’ experience modelling complex water supply networks.
• Strong technical knowledge of hydraulic modelling, network performance, demand forecasting, calibration, and scenario planning.
• Experience using modelling advice to support infrastructure planning, development, operations, resilience, and investment decisions.
• Confidence testing data, assumptions, model outputs, and technical recommendations.
• The ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to a range of audiences.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work well with planning, operations, asset management, digital, development engineering, consultants, and other internal customers.

Te Tukanga | How to apply

To submit your application, please apply online, as we are unable to accept applications via email.

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact Claudia Hellberg at Claudia.Hellberg@tauranga.govt.nz

Applications will close Friday 10th July

We’re committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those living with disabilities.
If you need any support or adjustments to take part in our recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruitment@tauranga.govt.nz

• You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.
• Tauranga City Council does not accept unsolicited contact or applications from recruitment agencies. We will not pay fees or commissions related to unsolicited contact.

Job Description: Principal Water Supply Modeller