Principal Consultant in Te Awamutu, Waikato at Ravensdown

About the role

Ravensdown has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Consultant to join the Environmental Consultancy team, based in Canterbury.

The Ravensdown Environmental Consultancy team provides farm environmental cost-recoverable advisory services to customers to help them meet their environmental and sustainability goals. Some of the services we deliver include; nutrient modelling, farm environment plans, resource consents, and GHG mitigation reports associated with farming activities. As required, the team also provides support to the wider Ravensdown business and works closely with the field-based teams for referrals and delivery of environmental advice.

As a Principal Consultant, you will apply your superior knowledge of farming systems and farm environmental management to provide commercially focused and technically robust consulting services to all clients. The ability to identify environmental risks and provide practical solutions through the provision of advice and guidance to your clients as to how they can mitigate and manage environmental impacts, is an important component of your role as a consultant.

You will be responsible for managing complex and high-risk client projects, ensuring quality results are delivered within budget, scope and schedule. What will set you apart as a successful Principal Consultant will be your ability to identify new business opportunities for growth, as well as proactively identifying trends and opportunities to broaden regional services in line with Ravensdown Environmental business objectives.

About you

You’ll have a sound understanding of regional plans that directly impact on the rural sector. You’ll also have all the characteristics of a consultant such as professionalism, tenacity, honesty, and integrity. You’ll be motivated by the commercial realities of being a consultant and thrive on meeting deadlines. To be successful in this role, you will be someone who can build strong relationships with our customers and the communities in which we operate.

Ideal skills & experience

• A degree in a relevant science or business field (e.g. agricultural science or land management). Post graduate degree in science and/or business would be beneficial.

• 10+ years relevant professional experience including significant experience in both agricultural and environmental fields, ideally working in an advisory role.

• CNMA certified

• Proven capability in managing large complex technical projects and coordinating inputs from others.

• Experience with the use of Overseer or other nutrient flow models.

• Professional in client interactions and client centred approach to work ethic.

• Exposure to commercial aspects of consulting work and the importance of financial sustainability within the business model.

• High level of commercial acumen and integrity with a demonstrated ability to exercise judgement and make decisions within an uncertain and ever-changing environment.

• People focussed with an ability to lead, influence, and develop others.

Benefits

In return for your skills, we offer a very competitive package that includes an array of insurances, company car, phone, laptop, plus excellent training opportunities in a supportive cooperative environment.

About the company

Ravensdown as a co-operative is all about essential farm inputs, and smart people using smart tools with the latest science in mind and our shareholders’ interests at heart.

Our work is guided by strong values that shape how we operate every day:

We Connect | Whanaungatanga
We Respect | Kaitiakitanga
We Deliver | Kotahitanga

These values are central to our culture and are actively lived, recognised, and celebrated across the organisation. We are an integral part of the food creation process.

We are the only co-operative that tests for, advises about, buys, ships, stores, spreads, measures and maps food creating nutrients and fertiliser in a truly integrated way.

Using technology, science, and smart people, we work in partnership with our farmers to provide the nutrients and agronomic solutions they need, together with innovative environmental products and services. Through this, we are committed to Smarter farming for a better New Zealand, Ka pūkekotia a Rongomātāne, ka poho kererū a Aotearoa.

How to apply: Create a profile and submit your CV and Cover letter.

Applications Close: Sunday 16 August 2026

Ravensdown is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace. The successful applicant will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug and alcohol test.