Environmental Health Officer

Environmental Health Officer

Live, work and play in Aotearoa New Zealand’s most spectacular setting.

No two days at Queenstown Lakes District Council are the same. Every day we provide services, facilities and programmes essential to the health and wellbeing of our people and environment, while stepping up to the challenges and opportunities that come with being New Zealand’s fastest growing territorial authority.

We’re proud to be QLDC. Our people are motivated by a shared purpose driven by care, connection and community. All our roles are at the heart of a dynamic and diverse set of communities where you will be making a genuine difference every day. Join us.

We're seeking an Environmental Health Officer or Senior Environmental Health Officer to join our busy and highly motivated team in a permanent, full-time role based in Queenstown. We welcome applications from qualified environmental health professionals at different stages of their career, with relocation assistance available for eligible candidates.

What you’ll be doing / He aha te mahi

As an Environmental Health Officer, you will be responsible for ensuring the health and wellbeing of our community by monitoring compliance and enforcing Environmental Health related legislation. This role covers a wide range of responsibilities, including registration and verification of food business, Food Safety Officer duties, inspection of premises registered under the Health Act 1956, noise monitoring, providing advice on drinking water and event consents, investigating general health nuisances and a range of other environmental health related functions. This role certainly offers a good balance of both office and field-based work.

The role will involve:

• Deliver food safety verification and enforcement across a defined QLDC district, assessing compliance with the Food Act 2014 for Food Control Plans, National Programmes.
• Act as a Warranted Food Safety Officer, investigating food safety and suitability complaints and exercising statutory enforcement powers, including issuing notices, suspensions and cancellations.
• Support and educate food businesses, providing practical coaching to operators, guidance to new businesses on registration requirements, and advice to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Process and review Food Act applications, event and market consents, and ensure accurate reporting and data management across MPI systems (including MAPs and Titiro).
• Maintain professional accreditation and quality standards, participating in peer reviews, external audits, CPD reporting, and operating within the Council’s Quality Management System.
• Protect public health in the wider community, responding to statutory nuisance investigations, supporting tenancy and housing complaints, and undertaking Duty EHO responsibilities.

What you’ll bring to the role / Ko wai to Pukeka

You will bring a strong environmental health foundation, underpinned by a recognised tertiary qualification and demonstrated experience working within a regulatory local government environment. You will be MPI-recognised as a Food Safety Officer and verifier, with a sound understanding of food safety systems, environmental health legislation, and compliance-based decision making.

This role requires a high level of professionalism, sound judgement, and the ability to balance enforcement with education and relationship management. You will be confident working independently across a diverse regulatory portfolio while contributing positively to team and organisational outcomes.

To best succeed in this role, you’ll have:

• Tertiary qualification in Health Science (BSc or equivalent) recognised under the New Zealand Environmental Health Officers Qualifications Regulations 1993.
• Preferred 3+ years’ experience in working in an environmental health role within local government, preferably in an Environmental Health role.
• MPI recognition as a Food Safety Officer, including verification of National Programmes and Generic Template Food Control Plans, with completed HACCP, Food Safety Academy, and CPD requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to assess health-related criteria for resource consents, review noise reports, undertake noise assessments, and evaluate complex regulatory information.
• Proven planning, organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure, and maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, provide clear advice, and present professionally with customers, stakeholders and partner agencies.
• Experience contributing to process or system improvements, applying research-based approaches, and using initiative to achieve effective regulatory outcomes.
• Full, clean New Zealand Driver Licence and the flexibility to work across a varied district portfolio.

What we offer / Ko a matou whakaratoka

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, wellbeing, and professional growth, including:

• Southern Cross Wellbeing One Plan
• Discounted membership to our health and fitness facilities
• Hybrid working practices
• Genuine commitment to your training and career development
• Re-location assistance for those outside of the district

Salary banding for this role is between $100k - $120k + KiwiSaver + Employee benefits (experience dependent). To apply, please follow the link and apply online with your CV and Cover Letter. Please direct any questions to Helen Evans, Environmental Health Manager, on Helen.Evans@qldc.govt.nz.

Applications close: 1st October 2026.

Please note we will review and process applications as they come through; we encourage your early application