Operations Advisor | Kaitohu Whakahaere

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai; Motueka; On-site; NZD 81,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

The Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai, in Motueka is seeking an Operations Advisor to drive planning, performance reporting, and business improvement to support conservation outcomes across the district.

Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will coordinate planning and reporting, identify risks and opportunities, and translate data into actionable insights to enable effective decision-making and governance. This is a permanent, full-time role in a coastal community.

Qualifications

• Strong operational understanding across conservation or related fields.
• Ability to link multiple work programmes to district priorities.
• High attention to detail with governance and assurance processes.
• Comfort with complex systems and multiple data sources.
• Proactive, organized and able to anticipate and complete tasks.
• Analytical mindset to generate actionable insights for decisions.
• Tech-savvy and capable of adopting new systems.
• Experience turning priorities into business plans and reporting.
• Strong relationship-building with iwi, community and teams.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the DOC context.

Responsibilities

• Provide district-wide assurance that key operational processes, reporting obligations and governance requirements are applied.
• Oversee planning, reporting and budget management for the district.
• Work with Principal Rangers to develop business plans and translate priorities into work programmes.
• Create quarterly and annual district plans, with reporting and insights to identify gaps and efficiencies.
• Build strong relationships with Treaty partners, iwi, community groups and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Operational planning

Performance reporting

Governance

Data analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Problem solving

Job description

Drive continuous improvement initiatives and enable excellence Permanent Role | $80,695 - $101,951 Motueka based: coastal living, outdoor adventure, and a welcoming community.

Integral role where you'll help shape the way conservation outcomes are planned, delivered, monitored, and improved across the district.

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa Mō te tūranga

About the role

As the Operations Advisor, you'll lead operational planning, performance reporting, business improvement, and governance processes that support effective decision-making and the successful delivery of DOC's priorities. Reporting to the Operations Manager, you'll work closely with operational leaders to coordinate planning and reporting, identify risks and opportunities, and support the effective delivery of district priorities. By turning data into actionable insights and fostering strong working relationships, you'll help drive operational excellence and conservation outcomes.

The position will be focussed on:

• Providing district-wide assurance that key operational processes, reporting obligations, governance requirements and risk management practices are consistently applied and maintained.
• overseeing planning, reporting and budget management for the district
• Working alongside Principal Rangers to develop business plans and translate operational priorities into actionable work programmes.
• creating the quarterly and annual business plans for the district producing reporting and insights to identify gaps and areas for improvement and efficiencies
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with Treaty partners, iwi, community groups and internal stakeholders to support the delivery of conservation outcomes across the district.

Click here for the Role Description

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

If you have some of the following, we are keen to hear from you:

• Strong operational understanding, ideally gained in conservation, biosecurity, land management, field operations, infrastructure, or a similar operational environment.
• Ability to work across diverse work programmes and understand how they contribute to district-wide priorities and outcomes.
• High attention to detail, with the ability to maintain operational disciplines, governance requirements, and assurance processes.
• Confidence working with complex systems and data sources, including financial, asset, biodiversity, and recreation reporting.
• Proactive and organised, anticipating issues before they arise and following through to completion.
• Analytical mindset, with the ability to generate meaningful insights that support effective operational decision-making.
• Tech-savvy and confident adopting new systems, technologies, and ways of working.
• Experience translating operational priorities into practical business plans, reporting frameworks, and deliverable work programmes.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including iwi, community groups, and operational teams.
• An understanding of the Māori-Crown relationship and Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it relates to the work of DOC.

He aha ngā pāinga mōu? | What’s in it for you?

DOC is committed to a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We’re driven by our values and behaviours, and are working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive by default. We also support flexible working arrangements for our kaimahi across Aotearoa, with options considered based on the role and in discussion with your leader.

Want to know more? Tonoa inaiānei

Salary: $80,695 - $101,951, depending on skills and experience.

Eligibility: You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Please note, we are not engaging with recruitment agencies for this role.

Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 7th October.

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Leeza Young, Senior Recruitment Advisor, [e-mail]

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa The Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) serves to protect and restore nature across Aotearoa. When nature thrives, we all thrive. Ko tā Te Papa Atawhai he tiaki, he whakarauora anō hoki i te taiao puta noa i Aotearoa. He oranga taiao, he oranga tangata. Our people bring this vision to life. Spread across Aotearoa, they care for our land, water, and native species. From frontline rangers and technical experts to vital support teams - we have a diverse range of roles. Read more about DOC