Team Lead External Applications

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) seeks a Team Lead External Applications in Wellington to guide the platforms and apps that support DOC customers, partners, and communities. You will lead a capable team, shape roadmaps, and ensure secure, reliable, and fit-for-purpose digital services aligned with DOC’s long-term strategy.

You will partner with business leaders, architects, vendors, and Māori to deliver high-value solutions, grow internal capability, and champion modern,

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading application development, digital platform, or systems administration teams.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft platform technologies, enterprise apps, Dynamics, or SaaS solutions.
• Experience balancing business needs, risk, and value for money in tech decisions.
• Strong understanding of SDLC, DevOps, release management, and modern app support.
• Experience leading vendors and partners to deliver outcomes.
• Ability to build trusted relationships across technical and non-technical teams.
• Commitment to developing people and inclusive, high-performing teams.
• Appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and working with Māori perspectives.

Responsibilities

• Leading development, configuration, support, and continuous improvement of DOC's external apps, websites, intranet, and Microsoft platform solutions.
• Driving platform strategy and roadmaps, prioritising enhancements, integrations, upgrades, and service improvements.
• Building and leading a high-performing team of developers and system administrators.
• Ensuring applications are secure, reliable, governed, and aligned with DOC standards.
• Partnering with stakeholders, vendors, and Māori to deliver high-quality digital services.

Skills

Team leadership

Microsoft tech

Tech decision making

SDLC & DevOps

Vendor management

Stakeholder influence

People development

Cultural capability

Job description

Salary: $108,946.00 - $150,000.00, depending on skills and experience.

Our vision

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

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. The position will be focussed on:

• 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 ngā 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 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.

Eligibility

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

Recruitment policy

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

Applications close

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, 15 November 2026. This advert may close early, so please apply promptly.

Contact

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

About DOC

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