Asset Engineer - Planning

Role overview

The Asset Engineer – Planning supports the long-term health, resilience, and performance of water, wastewater, and stormwater networks. The position sits at the point where asset management, infrastructure planning, and data analysis meet, helping shape investment decisions through sound data, lifecycle thinking, and future service requirements.

You will contribute to long-range infrastructure strategies, renewal forecasts, and asset valuation approaches that underpin reliable and financially sustainable service delivery. By working alongside operational, planning, and asset management teams, you will bring technical analysis, modelling capability, and practical insight to improve infrastructure performance and support growth.

Key duties

• Create long-term infrastructure plans for water, wastewater, and stormwater networks that align with growth and future service needs.
• Drive lifecycle planning for assets, including renewal forecasting and infrastructure valuation work.
• Use and maintain modelling tools to test scenarios, assess capacity, and support investment choices.
• Keep asset information accurate, dependable, and suitable for strategic planning and reporting.
• Offer technical advice for asset management plans, investment strategies, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Partner with planning, operations, and asset management colleagues to deliver sustainable infrastructure outcomes.

Candidate profile

We are looking for someone with a civil engineering tertiary qualification and at least 5 years of experience in infrastructure planning, preferably in water services. You should understand asset lifecycle management, renewal forecasting, and infrastructure valuation, and be comfortable working with GIS, AMIS, and modelling tools. Experience in data governance and data validation is also important.

Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills are essential, as you will work with both technical and non-technical audiences. A collaborative, practical, and solution-oriented approach will help you balance strategic goals with real-world delivery.

What’s on offer

• 5 weeks of annual leave after 2 years of service.
• Discounted health insurance scheme and an eye test subsidy.
• Retail discounts and study assistance.
• Employee Assistance Program (OCP).
• Quarterly values awards, birthday vouchers, and a social club.
• Free annual flu vaccinations.
• Ka Awatea Cultural Wānanga and NCC Kapa Haka.
• Te Reo Māori language classes.

Additional information

Napier City Council is transitioning toward a joint regional water entity under the Local Water Done Well reform. As a result, the governance and delivery of water services may change, with possible adjustments to structure, reporting relationships, and regional collaboration. The successful applicant should be comfortable working in a changing environment and open to evolving responsibilities within a wider regional water approach.

This is a permanent role based in Napier, working 40 hours per week from Monday to Friday.

The total annual salary package is between $105,700 and $124,300, including KiwiSaver. The final offer will depend on the selected candidate’s skills and experience.

Applications are reviewed as they are received, and the role may close once a suitable candidate is found.

Napier City Council values diversity and offers an inclusive, accessible hiring process. Support or adjustments can be provided during the application or interview stages if needed.

The organisation works in partnership with Mana Whenua and Iwi, supported by its Māori Partnerships team, Te Waka Rangapū, which strengthens cultural capability through education and training.

Before employment begins, pre-employment checks are required, which include criminal background checks. Some roles may also require health screening and drug and alcohol testing. Employees may also be asked to assist with Civil Defence emergencies when the community needs support.