Partnerships Advisor

OSPRI; Taupo; Hybrid; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Medical Insurance

Critical Illness & Lifecare insurance

Wellbeing leave & volunteer day

Study assistance & development

Job summary

OSPRI in Taupō is seeking a Partnerships Advisor to build trusted relationships across iwi, hapū and Māori organisations, supporting collaboration for NZ biosecurity programmes. You will advise on Te Ao Māori and tikanga, identify risks, and help deliver stakeholder-informed operational planning.

You bring proven stakeholder engagement, facilitation and negotiation skills, with a collaborative, culturally aware approach to working with diverse communities.

Qualifications

• Experience building trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong stakeholder engagement or partnership management experience.
• Knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Ao Māori and tikanga Māori.
• Experience working with iwi, hapū and Māori governance entities.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with iwi, hapū, Māori organisations and other stakeholders.
• Support suppliers, operational teams and communities to work collaboratively for programme outcomes.
• Identify stakeholder risks early and support practical solutions.
• Provide advice on cultural considerations and partnership approaches that enhance operations.
• Facilitate engagement, collaboration and communication across diverse groups.
• Contribute to the social licence to operate through partnerships and insights.

Skills

Relationship management

Stakeholder engagement

Te Tiriti knowledge

Tikanga Māori

Facilitation

Negotiation

Communication

Collaboration

Job description

Ko wai mātou – About us:

At OSPRI, our work is guided by strong values and a clear purpose. We exist to strengthen and protect New Zealand’s livestock industries through excellence in disease management and traceability — supporting farmers, communities and the primary sector to thrive.

• Ārahina e te Aronga | Purpose Led – we stay focused on what matters most and the impact we're here to create
• Whakamana Tangata | Powered by People – we uplift our people, farmers and partners
• Kotahitanga | Stronger Together – we believe meaningful change happens through shared effort
• Ka Tūtuki ā Mātou Mahi | We Deliver – we are committed to delivering enduring results

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the Role:

As a Partnerships Advisor based in Taupō, you’ll play a vital role in building and maintaining trusted relationships that support the successful delivery of OSPRI’s programmes across New Zealand. Working within our Operations team, you’ll partner with iwi, hapū, Māori organisations, landowners, communities, suppliers and other stakeholders to foster collaboration and positive outcomes. This role provides expert relationship management and partnership support across a diverse range of stakeholders. You’ll help identify opportunities, manage risks, and provide advice on Te Ao Māori and tikanga Māori, and ensure stakeholder insights are incorporated into planning and operational delivery. Working closely with operational teams and external partners, you’ll contribute to OSPRI’s social licence to operate and help deliver successful programme outcomes through trusted partnerships.

What success will look like:

• Building and maintaining trusted relationships with iwi, hapū, Māori organisations and other key stakeholders.
• Supporting suppliers, operational teams and communities to work collaboratively towards successful programme outcomes.
• Identifying stakeholder risks and relationship issues early and supporting practical, timely solutions.
• Providing advice on cultural considerations, stakeholder dynamics and partnership approaches that enhance operational success.
• Facilitating effective engagement, collaboration and communication across diverse groups.
• Supporting the implementation of OSPRI's partnership initiatives and strengthening our social licence to operate.
• Capturing stakeholder insights and lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
• Living our values daily.

Kōrero mōu - About you:

You’re a relationship-focused professional who enjoys working with diverse communities, stakeholders and partners to achieve shared outcomes. You bring a collaborative approach, cultural awareness and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments. Whether facilitating discussions, resolving issues or building long‑term partnerships, you’re someone who can bring people together and foster positive relationships. You naturally align with Kotahitanga | Stronger Together, working collaboratively to build trust and achieve common goals, and Whakamana Tangata | Powered by People, creating positive relationships that support people, communities and programme outcomes.

You will bring:

Partnership and stakeholder expertise

• Experience building and maintaining trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, community engagement or partnership management experience.
• Knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Ao Māori and tikanga Māori.
• Experience working with iwi, hapū, Māori organisations and Māori governance entities.
• Strong communication, facilitation, negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Ability to identify stakeholder risks and support effective resolution of issues.
• Experience working across multiple stakeholder groups to deliver collaborative outcomes.
• Experience using stakeholder or customer relationship management systems.

Professional skills

• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Ability to build credibility and establish trust quickly.
• Sound judgement and problem‑solving capability.
• Excellent planning, organisation and prioritisation skills.
• A collaborative and adaptable approach to working in dynamic environments.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering high‑quality outcomes.

In return we offer:

• A purpose‑led organisation where values genuinely guide how we work
• A supportive, inclusive and collaborative team environment
• Work that contributes to New Zealand’s biosecurity and farming communities
• Flexible working options
• OSPRI days – paid leave between Christmas and New Year
• Medical Insurance
• Critical Illness, Trauma and Lifecare insurance
• Wellbeing leave and a paid volunteer day
• Study assistance and development opportunities
• The ability to purchase additional annual leave
• Eye care allowance
• Parental/Partner’s leave benefits

Applications close at 4:00pm Friday, 13 November 2026.

Please note: Eligibility to work in New Zealand is required. This role is subject to a Ministry of Justice criminal history check and pre‑employment drug and alcohol testing.

OSPRI supports a workplace of diversity, equity and inclusion where our people feel welcomed, valued and supported to do their best work. If you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.