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ECan organisation design review

Environment Canterbury has recently reviewed its organisational structure.

ECan chief executive Dr Bryan Jenkins says the current functional structure was designed to deliver statutory processes, whereas the organisation is moving more to a community outcomes approach.

“The role of ECan in regional strategy development is increasing, in line with the broader requirements of the Local Government Act to facilitate community outcomes.

“A new directorate is being created to formulate and manage our regional programmes in water, air and energy, transport, pest and land management and urban development. This will enhance co-ordination and programme delivery.

“We have also brought together our resource planning and consent functions into one directorate as we move more into plan implementation and consent reviews.”

Dr Jenkins said that modifications had been made to 21 positions and of these, 12 would be advertised in newspapers this weekend. The remaining nine appointments will be advertised or made internally.

The seven directorates reporting to the chief executive will be: Regional Programmes, Investigations and Monitoring, Resource Planning and Consents, Regulation, External Relations, Operations, and Finance and Corporate Services. ECan currently employs 449 full-time equivalent staff, with main offices in Christchurch and Timaru.

The review was conducted through ECan staff workshops, focus groups, and email and verbal feedback across the organisation over several weeks by Right Management, an organisational performance consultancy.

Selecting new staff and making appointments will occur in November and December with the new structure operational from February 1, 2008.

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