Team Lead External Applications

Department of Conservation; Wellington; On-site; NZD 109,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Conservation is seeking a Team Lead External Applications to steer the platforms and applications supporting DOC's customers, partners, and communities across Aotearoa. You will guide the team responsible for the Microsoft platform, websites, intranet, and Dynamics ecosystem, ensuring reliability, security, and continuous improvement.

You will collaborate with business leaders, product owners, architects, vendors, and Māori partners to deliver fit-for-purpose, customer-focused

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading application development, digital platform, or systems administration teams.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft platform technologies, enterprise apps, website platforms, Dynamics, or SaaS solutions.
• Experience balancing business needs, technical sustainability, risk, and value for money when making technology decisions.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle, DevOps, release management, integration practices, and modern application support.
• Experience leading vendors, suppliers, and technology partners to deliver successful outcomes.
• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence stakeholders across technical and non-technical environments.
• A passion for developing people, building capability, and creating inclusive, high-performing teams.
• An appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and a commitment to working effectively with Māori and diverse perspectives.

Responsibilities

• Leading the development, configuration, support, and continuous improvement of DOC's external applications, websites, intranet, and Microsoft platform solutions.
• Driving platform strategy and roadmaps, prioritising enhancements, integrations, upgrades, and service improvements that deliver business value and customer outcomes.
• Building and leading a high-performing team of developers and system administrators, fostering growth, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Ensuring applications are secure, reliable, well-governed, and aligned with DOC's architecture, information management, and security standards.
• Partnering with stakeholders, vendors, and Māori to deliver high-quality digital services that meet evolving organisational and customer needs.

Skills

Leadership

Microsoft platform technologies

DevOps

SDLC

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

People development

Te Tiriti o Waitangi awareness

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

SaaS platforms

Job description

Shape the digital experiences that connect people with nature, leading the platforms, people, and technology behind DOC's customer-facing services$108,946.00 - $150,000.00Permanent full time, Wellington location preferred - open to Auckland

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

About the role

Great conservation outcomes rely on great digital experiences. As Team Lead External Applications, you'll lead the team responsible for the platforms and applications that support DOC's customers, partners, and communities across Aotearoa. This is an opportunity to combine people leadership, technical expertise, and strategic thinking to ensure DOC's external applications, including the Microsoft platform, website, intranet, and Dynamics ecosystem, are reliable, secure, and continuously improving. You'll work closely with business leaders, product owners, architects, vendors, delivery teams, and Māori partners to deliver technology solutions that are fit for purpose, customer-focused, and aligned to DOC's long-term digital strategy. You'll also play a key role in growing internal capability and championing the smart use of modern, off-the-shelf platforms to deliver sustainable, high-value outcomes.

• Leading the development, configuration, support, and continuous improvement of DOC's external applications, websites, intranet, and Microsoft platform solutions


• Driving platform strategy and roadmaps, prioritising enhancements, integrations, upgrades, and service improvements that deliver business value and customer outcomes


• Building and leading a high-performing team of developers and system administrators, fostering growth, collaboration, and technical excellence


• Ensuring applications are secure, reliable, well-governed, and aligned with DOC's architecture, information management, and security standards


• Partnering with stakeholders, vendors, and Māori to deliver high-quality digital services that meet evolving organisational and customer needs

Ngā pūkenga me ēn wheako | Skills and experience

We are keen to hear from you, if you have;

• Proven experience leading application development, digital platform, or systems administration teams


• Strong knowledge of Microsoft platform technologies, enterprise applications, website platforms, Dynamics, or comparable SaaS solutions


• Experience balancing business needs, technical sustainability, risk, and value for money when making technology decisions


• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle, DevOps, release management, integration practices, and modern application support


• Experience leading vendors, suppliers, and technology partners to deliver successful outcomes


• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence stakeholders across technical and non-technical environments


• A passion for developing people, building capability, and creating inclusive, high-performing teams


• An appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and a commitment to working effectively with Māori and diverse perspectives

He aha ēn pānga môu? | 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?

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

For further enquiries, please contact Emily Blokker, Senior Recruitment Advisor [e-mail]

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

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