Senior Regulatory Policy Lead — Conservation Reform

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai; Wellington; On-site; NZD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Regulatory Operational Policy Advisor at Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai leads on conservation regulation reform and regulatory modernisation, translating policy into practical regulatory settings across DOC’s system. Fixed-term or secondment to 30 June 2027, based in Wellington or Christchurch, with opportunities to influence senior government stakeholders.

You'll work across legislation, policy and delivery, provide trusted advice on high-profile issues, mentor team

Qualifications

• Experience in regulatory policy, operational policy, public policy, or a similar regulatory environment
• Experience leading complex work programmes and delivering results with a high degree of autonomy
• Experience interpreting legislation and translating policy into implementation
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity
• Excellent relationship management, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience providing trusted advice to senior decision-makers
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Understanding of, or willingness to learn, Māori tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how it applies to your work

Responsibilities

• Leading complex operational policy work to support conservation law reform and regulatory modernisation
• Translating legislative and policy changes into effective operational regulatory settings
• Providing clear, evidence-based advice on complex regulatory issues
• Building strong relationships across policy, legal, operational and regulatory stakeholders
• Identifying emerging risks, opportunities and implementation challenges
• Supporting the successful implementation of regulatory change across DOC
• Providing guidance and mentoring to team members
• Working with Treaty partners to support Māori engagement and involvement with our work

Skills

Regulatory policy

Operational policy

Public policy

Policy implementation

Stakeholder engagement

Senior advisory

Written & verbal comms

Māori engagement

Job description

The Senior Regulatory Operational Policy Advisor at Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai leads on conservation regulation reform and regulatory modernisation, translating policy into practical regulatory settings across DOC’s system. Fixed-term or secondment to 30 June 2027, based in Wellington or Christchurch, with opportunities to influence senior government stakeholders.

You'll work across legislation, policy and delivery, provide trusted advice on high-profile issues, mentor team