Chief Partnerships, Revenue & Impact Officer

Ichor Leadership Search; Auckland; On-site; NZD 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ) seeks a Chief Partnerships, Revenue & Impact Officer to lead the organisation's demand engine, shaping partnerships, revenue and impact strategies across science, IP and assets. You will report to the CEO and collaborate with the leadership team to align mission with growth, build strategic alliances, and drive commercial outcomes for NZ’s critical science priorities.

Wellington-based preferred, with broad stakeholder engagement across government, industry and

Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record in driving growth, revenue diversification and partnerships.
• Ability to translate science and assets into commercial value.
• Leadership experience across large, multi-disciplinary portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Lead ESNZ's partnership, revenue and impact agenda as part of the ELT.
• Develop and execute diversification strategies for funding and revenue.
• Build relationships with customers, funders, iwi/Māori, industry and government.
• Translate market insights into priorities, programmes and investments.

Skills

Executive leadership

Revenue growth

Strategic partnerships

Stakeholder engagement

Influencing skills

Job description

Chief Partnerships, Revenue & Impact Officer

Formed in July 2025 through the merger of GNS Science and NIWA, Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ) brings together around 1,100 people with leading expertise across earth, environmental, atmospheric, freshwater and marine sciences. It applies science, data and technology to New Zealand's critical challenges - from natural hazards and climate resilience to energy and healthy ecosystems - turning insight into practical outcomes for a safer, stronger and more prosperous Aotearoa New Zealand.

ESNZ is now moving beyond its initial merger to build a more integrated, agile and commercially sustainable organisation. Its new operating model connects customer and partner needs with multidisciplinary science, scalable data and digital solutions. ESNZ is focused on developing stronger partnerships, innovation, diversified revenue and greater value from its science, intellectual property and assets.

Three new Executive Leadership Team (ELT) roles have been established to help drive this transformation through collaborative, enterprise-wide leadership. As the leader of ESNZ's "Demand Engine", the Chief Partnerships, Revenue & Impact Officer leads over 200 staff and is accountable for shaping the organisation's partnership, revenue and impact agenda.

If appointed you will work closely with the Chief Executive and leadership team colleagues, connecting customer, funder, iwi/Māori, industry and government priorities with ESNZ's science and technology. You will identify opportunities, build relationships, diversify funding and revenue, and unlock value from ESNZ's science, intellectual property, platforms and infrastructure.

Working across ESNZ, you will align mission and growth activity to realise the scientific, public and commercial value of strategic assets that range from research vessels through to laboratories and national collections. You and your teams will drive growth and commercialisation strategies, develop partnerships based on research and innovation, and turn market insight into priorities, programmes and investment opportunities.

To be credible for this role, you will have a strong track record of driving growth, revenue diversification and building strategic partnerships, ideally in science, research, innovation or other knowledge-based environments. You will also offer:

Executive-level leadership experience across substantial portfolios, with accountability for strategy, performance, people and resources.

Strong commercial acumen, with a track record of securing significant funding, revenue, investment or strategic partnerships.

Exceptional relationship-building, communication and influencing skills across government, industry, iwi, research and innovation domains.

Ability to engage credibly with scientific and technical experts and translate capability and market needs into practical, sustainable outcomes.

Collaborative, empowering leadership that builds trust, connects disciplines and delivers enterprise-wide results.

There is a preference for this role to be Wellington-based.

Confidential enquiries and applications should be directed to Guy Brew or Joanna de Wilde at Ichor Leadership Search by 5.00pm on Friday 6 November. Contact us via email at @ichor.co.nz or telephone: +64 230 .

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Ichor specialises in leading searches to appoint senior executives in a range of organisations across the public and private sectors. We also offer governance search and have advised a range of Boards with Director appointments.

We use contemporary, best-in-class techniques to identify the right executive talent for your organisation. We appreciate the need for a well-calibrated search approach and understand the often sensitive nature of executive searches. You can rely on us to safeguard your information, act with the utmost discretion at all times, apply a rigorous and transparent approach, and deliver results within agreed timeframes.

Members of Kestria and AESC.

Ichor specialises in leading searches to appoint senior executives in a range of organisations across the public and private sectors. We also offer governance search and have advised a range of Boards with Director appointments.

We use contemporary, best-in-class techniques to identify the right executive talent for your organisation. We appreciate the need for a well-calibrated search approach and understand the often sensitive nature of executive searches. You can rely on us to safeguard your information, act with the utmost discretion at all times, apply a rigorous and transparent approach, and deliver results within agreed timeframes.