SLSNZ - Lifesaving Manager - Northern

Surf Life Sa; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is seeking an experienced Operational Leader to head lifesaving services in the Northern Region. You will oversee paid and volunteer teams, drive safety outcomes and build strong club partnerships across a large coastal area.

You'll connect national priorities with local needs, lead a high-performing regional team, manage risk, budgeting and incident response, and champion sustainable, community-focused lifesaving delivery.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in Surf Life Saving or similar emergency/public-safety environment.
• Experience leading teams across a geographically dispersed region.
• Strong planning, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to build partnerships with clubs, volunteers and authorities.
• Knowledge of risk management and coastal safety operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional delivery of lifesaving services, both volunteer and paid.
• Develop and coach the regional team to improve capability and performance.
• Strengthen partnerships with clubs, local authorities and emergency services.
• Oversee budgeting, planning and continuous improvement of the Northern Lifeguard Service.
• Coordinate emergency-response readiness and incident management.
• Monitor performance and inform national planning and policy.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Operational planning

Financial management

Education

Tertiary qualification

Job description

SLSNZ - Lifesaving Manager - Northern

Northern Region | Permanent, full-time

• Lead safe, sustainable lifesaving services across the Northern Region
• Build trusted partnerships with clubs, volunteers and emergency-service partners
• Lead and develop a capable, high-performing regional team

Lead lifesaving delivery where it matters most

Surf Life Saving New Zealand supports clubs and their members to keep communities safe on Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastlines. We’re looking for an experienced operational leader to lead our volunteer and paid lifesaving services across the Northern Region.

This is a significant regional leadership role, combining people leadership, operational delivery, club partnerships, coastal safety and emergency-response coordination. You’ll connect national priorities with local needs, ensuring clubs and operational leaders are supported to deliver safe, effective and sustainable services.

About the role

Reporting to the National Lifesaving Manager, you will lead three Lifesaving Support Leads and the Coastal Safety Officer.

You will:

• Lead the regional delivery of volunteer and paid lifesaving services
• Support clubs and operational leaders to build capability, manage risk and deliver quality community outcomes
• Build trusted relationships with clubs, volunteers, local authorities, emergency services and other stakeholders
• Lead the planning, budgeting, delivery and continuous improvement of the Northern Paid Lifeguard Service
• Strengthen the integration of paid and volunteer lifesaving services
• Provide leadership for regional coastal-safety initiatives and ensure insights inform risk reduction and service improvement
• Support emergency-response readiness, incident management and organisational learning
• Monitor service performance, operational risks and emerging trends
• Lead assurance and continuous-improvement activity across the lifesaving portfolio
• Manage regional resources responsibly and support the long-term sustainability of services
• Coach and develop a capable, accountable and collaborative regional team
• Ensure regional experience and insights help shape national planning, policies and future service design

For a full position description click here

About you

You’ll be a credible and collaborative leader who understands how to achieve strong operational outcomes through people, partnerships and sound judgement.

You will bring:

• Leadership experience within Surf Life Saving, emergency management, public safety, a volunteer-based organisation or a comparable operational environment
• Experience leading and developing teams across a complex or geographically dispersed environment
• Strong operational planning, problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Experience leading service delivery, implementing change and driving continuous improvement
• The ability to build trusted relationships with clubs, volunteers, community organisations and partner agencies
• Confidence balancing immediate operational demands with longer-term organisational priorities
• Experience using data and operational insights to inform planning and improvement
• Sound financial and resource-management capability
• Knowledge of Surf Life Saving operations and the realities of delivering community-based services through volunteers

A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent leadership and operational-management experience would be valuable.

Why join SLSNZ?

This is an opportunity to influence lifesaving outcomes across our largest and most complex region.

You’ll support clubs and lifeguards to deliver safe, sustainable services; strengthen connections across the rescue and response network; and lead a team whose work makes a visible difference to coastal communities.

You’ll join a purpose-driven organisation guided by our Kawa Tātaki, Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Wellbeing and Fun and connected through Kapa Kotahi, our commitment to working as one team.

Applications close November 8, 2026.