Application Administrator

About the EPA

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s independent environmental regulator. Its work helps safeguard the country’s environment, economy, and people by making decisions grounded in evidence, mātauranga, and science. The organisation encourages ambitious thinking and values the impact its decisions will have for future generations.

The EPA regulates activity across climate, land, and ocean environments so New Zealand can use natural resources sustainably, protect the environment, and meet international obligations. It also manages application and decision-making processes, operates the register for carbon unit trading, and makes sure legal obligations are carried out effectively, fairly, and transparently as a trusted regulator.

About the role

This position is based in the Wellington office. Hybrid working may be considered, but the job is not intended to be fully remote. The role supports application and hearing processes through coordination, administration, and close collaboration with internal teams, decision-makers, and external stakeholders.

What you will do

• Coordinate logistics for applications and hearings.
• Handle administrative support across application workflows and regulatory processes.
• Manage meetings, hearings, and related scheduling details.
• Maintain document management and filing systems.
• Support financial administration, including tracking and cost recovery tasks.
• Respond to queries from internal and external stakeholders in a professional manner.
• Work with teams and decision-makers to keep processes running smoothly.
• Contribute to improvements in systems, processes, and team effectiveness.

What success looks like

Success in this role means hearings and application processes are organised efficiently, administrative support is accurate and timely, stakeholder relationships are strong, and systems are improved over time to support better team performance.

About you

You should be reliable, self-driven, highly organised, and focused on quality. The EPA is looking for someone who can stay practical when solving problems, manage several priorities at once, and keep calm under pressure and deadlines. You will need to be confident handling administrative work, comfortable learning new systems quickly, accurate with financial paperwork, and able to communicate clearly with a strong customer-service mindset. A positive team attitude and willingness to support process improvements are also important.

Essential experience and capabilities

• Administrative support experience with the ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Strong organisation and prioritisation skills.
• Practical, solution-oriented judgement.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to dependable, high-quality work.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and other administrative systems.
• Ability to learn new software and digital tools quickly.
• Accuracy and reliability when handling financial documents.
• Professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Customer-service orientation and a collaborative approach.

Nice to have

• Experience in the public sector or with statutory bodies.
• Exposure to document management or workflow platforms.
• Understanding of machinery of government processes.
• Experience supporting hearings, panels, or formal decision-making settings.
• Background in customer-facing service roles.
• Interest in science, environmental regulation, or international regulation.

What’s in it for you

• Flexible working culture.
• Three extra paid leave days between Christmas and New Year, on top of four weeks of annual leave.
• A $400 tax-free payment to help set up your home workspace.
• An annual paid EPA Environment Day to support community environmental initiatives.
• In-house Māori cultural capability development programme.
• Learning opportunities, including the annual EPA Symposium.
• An active social club plus a range of support networks and interest groups.
• EPA awards that recognise individual and team contributions.
• Relocation support for candidates moving to New Zealand from overseas.

Salary

The salary band for this role is $62,358 to $93,536 per year, with a midpoint of $77,947. The full band shown represents 80% to 120% of the midpoint, and offers are usually made at or below the midpoint depending on skills and experience.

How to apply

Submit the online application form along with your CV and a cover letter. The cover letter is an important part of the assessment process, so be sure to explain how your experience connects to the role, why you are interested, and what you can share about yourself, your values, and/or whakapapa.

You may contact recruit@epa.govt.nz for further information.

Additional information

The EPA is open to inter-agency secondments where applicable, and applicants should discuss the opportunity with their current manager before applying if possible. Applications will be reviewed as they arrive, and selection may begin before the closing date. The application deadline is 5pm on 21 July 2026.