National Visitor Safety & Standards Leader

New Zealand Government; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 145,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

New Zealand Government, through DOC, is seeking a Visitor Safety and Standards Leader to drive national standards and risk management for NZ's iconic conservation places. The role leads a dispersed, specialist team and partners with senior leaders to ensure safe visitor experiences across the country.

You will influence policy, recommendations and investments, using data and evidence to improve safety outcomes for communities and visitors alike.

Qualifications

• Experience in visitor safety, public safety, tourism, outdoor recreation, natural hazards, infrastructure, asset management or related safety-critical sector.
• Knowledge of New Zealand's natural hazards environment and land safety sector.
• Significant leadership experience building and developing high-performing technical or specialist teams.
• Experience providing strategic advice to senior leaders and influencing decision-making in publicly accountable, complex or safety-critical organisations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership skills, with a track record of delivering outcomes across agencies, sectors and diverse interest groups.
• Experience operating in complex and ambiguous environments, balancing competing priorities and delivering results through influence and collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to apply evidence, research, data, technology or emerging trends to improve organisational performance and business outcomes.
• Experience preparing executive-level advice, governance reporting and strategic briefings.
• A current full New Zealand driver licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead system stewardship and performance, strengthening visitor safety frameworks, standards and assurance processes.
• Advance natural hazard risk management across landslide, volcanic, geothermal, avalanche, tsunami and other risks.
• Drive measurable safety outcomes through evidence-based initiatives, research, technology and data-informed decision making.
• Provide governance and assurance leadership, including oversight of safety performance and investigations.
• Influence organisational decision-making and allocate resources to address complex risk issues.
• Grow sector-wide collaboration with government, local authorities, tourism, outdoor recreation and emergency management partners.
• Lead and develop a high-performing national team across dispersed locations to sustain capability.
• Support regional operations with specialist visitor safety and standards guidance.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Governance

Public safety

Cross-agency collaboration

People development

Job description

New Zealand Government, through DOC, is seeking a Visitor Safety and Standards Leader to drive national standards and risk management for NZ's iconic conservation places. The role leads a dispersed, specialist team and partners with senior leaders to ensure safe visitor experiences across the country.

You will influence policy, recommendations and investments, using data and evidence to improve safety outcomes for communities and visitors alike.