- Four Directors to help shape QLDC’s Water Services CCO
- Foundation governance leadership opportunity
- Partner with shareholder & community that care deeply about the district & its environment
The Organisation
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is setting up a wholly owned Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) to plan, fund and deliver drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services for the Queenstown Lakes district.
The Role
QLDC is now seeking Directors to help guide the establishment and stewardship of this new entity. As a Director, you will contribute to shaping the WSCCO’s vision, strategy and operating model, and provide robust governance and oversight across risk, assurance, performance and delivery as the organisation moves toward establishment and beyond.
This is a rare opportunity to build a future-ready, financially sustainable water services organisation serving one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most distinctive communities in a world-renowned environment - where reliable and sustainable water services are central to supporting the district’s, wellbeing, growth, and tourism brand.
Skills and Experience
You will bring effective governance capability, sound judgement and commercial acumen, with the ability to operate in a politically sensitive, high-scrutiny environment. You will be comfortable working at pace through ambiguity, and able to balance affordability, resilience, risk, regulatory expectations and community outcomes.
Candidates of interest will also:
- Bring strategic thinking and alignment with shareholder expectations and a commitment to public accountability and transparency.
- Have commercial/financial literacy and confidence assessing investment and risk decisions.
- Have experience in regulated environments and/or public-sector accountability settings.
- Demonstrate proven stakeholder engagement and political acumen.
- Demonstrate commitment to respectful partnership with mana whenua.
- Bring health, safety and wellbeing experience in high-risk operational contexts.
- Demonstrates, through prior roles, a proactive approach to improving environmental outcomes.
The QLDC WSCCO will require a Board that collectively demonstrates competence in the following key areas:
- Water infrastructure governance/delivery (three waters), including emerging practice and innovation.
- Public health and water standards/regulatory accountability.
- Working knowledge of water reform and the regulatory framework including WSCCO information disclosure (Commerce Commission) and evolving Taumata Arowai regulatory settings.
- Environmental science/freshwater knowledge (ecology, catchments, contaminant pathways).
This is a legacy opportunity to help establish an organisation that will serve communities for generations. You will work with committed partners, a clear public mandate and high-calibre governance colleagues—bringing your experience to decisions that matter for public health, environmental outcomes and community resilience. Applicants are encouraged from senior managers and CEs who have been working in the water sector who can operate within a water services governance.