Kaiwhakahaere

The ReCreators Ltd; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The ReCreators Ltd seeks a Kaiwhakahaere/Manager to lead strategic and operational delivery for an upcycling, community-focused charity. You will drive multi-year strategy, diversify funding, and oversee financials while guiding a small team of staff and contractors across woodworking, craft, gardening, and upcycling programs.

You will report to the Board, build partnerships, and steward environmental and social impact as part of a Just Transition.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated strategic thinking and ability to translate strategy into operational delivery.
• Proven grant writing and funding application experience, ideally within the charitable/community sector.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership principles.
• Strong financial literacy including budget management and oversight (Xero a plus).
• Experience managing staff in a small team or flexible environment.
• Knowledge of sales, marketing and business development in a mission-led org.
• Strong relationship-building with community, council, iwi/hapori Māori and funders.
• Understanding of para kore (zero waste) principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of The ReCreators multi-year business strategy and diversify funding and income.
• Provide strategic direction to the Board, staff and partners and translate strategy into operational plans.
• Identify and develop new programme, partnership and enterprise opportunities aligned with kaupapa.
• Lead development of funding applications across Local Boards, Creative NZ and other funders.
• Maintain funder relationships and deliver accurate, timely reporting with evidence.
• Oversee outcomes reporting to support accountability and future funding.
• Own overall financial oversight including budget development, monitoring and reconciliation.
• Collaborate with Xero to ensure accurate financial reporting to Board and funders.
• Manage budgets for grant applications and drive financial sustainability through grants and earned revenue.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and pastoral support to a team of 6 part-time staff and contractors.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Grant writing

Financial literacy

Staff leadership

Relationship building

Te Tiriti o Waitangi knowledge

Sustainable enterprise

Xero proficiency

Tools

Xero

Job description

The Kaiwhakahaere/Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for The ReCreators, ensuring it delivers on its kaupapa while building a financially sustainable, values-led enterprise. This DIY leadership role suits someone who moves fluidly between big-picture strategy and the practical realities of running a small charity, spanning funding applications, commercial sales, financial oversight, people leadership, and community relationships. A key focus is growing The ReCreators enterprise capability: developing revenue streams alongside grant funding, and building a sustainable business model that reduces reliance on any single funding source while staying true to our environmental and social mission.

Key responsibilities

• Lead delivery of The ReCreators multi-year business strategy, including growth of rangatahi programmes into new Tāmaki locations and diversification of funding and income
• Provide clear strategic direction to the Board, staff, and partners, translating strategy into achievable operational plans
• Identify and develop new programme, partnership, and enterprise opportunities aligned with our kaupapa
• Lead the development of funding applications across Local Boards, Foundation North, Creative Communities, Creative NZ, Lotteries, and other funders
• Maintain strong relationships with funders and ensure funder-specific accountability reporting is accurate, timely, and well evidenced
• Oversee outcomes reporting (workshops, attendance, volunteer hours, weight diverted) to support both accountability and future funding applications
• Own overall financial oversight of the organisation, including budget development, monitoring, and reconciliation
• Work closely with Xero to ensure accurate financial reporting to the Board and funders
• Manage budgets for grant applications and drive financial sustainability through a mix of grant income and enterprise/earned revenue
• Provide day-to-day leadership and pastoral support to a team of 6 part-time staff and various contractors across woodworking, craft, gardening, and upcycling programme areas through a vision of kaitiakitanga

About you

• Demonstrated strategic thinking and ability to translate strategy into operational delivery
• Proven grant writing and funding application experience, ideally within the charitable/community sector
• Understanding of and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership principles
• Strong financial literacy, including budget management and financial oversight (experience with Xero or similar an advantage)
• Experience managing and leading staff, ideally within a small team or part-time/flexible workforce environment
• Understanding of sales, marketing, and business development principles, with enthusiasm for applying these to a mission-led organisation
• Strong relationship building and stakeholder engagement skills across community, council, iwi/hapori Māori, and funder audiences
• Good understanding of environmental and social enterprise models
• Knowledge of and commitment to para kore (zero waste) principles
• Resilience and adaptability, comfortable working within the constraints and pace of a small charitable organisation

About us

We're an upcycling DIY collective delivering skills-based classes across Tāmaki Makaurau and the Waikato, promoting creativity, mindful making and sustainability. We believe everything and everyone deserves a second chance, as part of a social and environmental Just Transition. Our kaupapa is grounded in kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and para kore (zero waste), with Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership as a foundational commitment. We work alongside community hubs, schools, Auckland Council and partner organisations to build skills, reduce waste and strengthen community connection.