Team Lead Management Planning

Public Service; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Support for staff across Aotearoa

Job summary

Department of Conservation in Christchurch (Canterbury) seeks a Team Lead Management Planning to head a key national programme. You will balance people leadership with strategic delivery and trusted advice in a dynamic policy and regulatory setting.

The role focuses on enabling others to succeed, prioritising workloads, and developing team capability across locations, with an emphasis on Treaty engagement and stakeholder relationships. Flexible arrangements may be considered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and developing high‑performing teams.
• Strong programme, planning or project leadership experience.
• Ability to understand broad organisational, regulatory and political contexts and provide sound judgement.
• Experience building trusted relationships and influencing across diverse stakeholder groups.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of national management planning programmes and priorities.
• Enable your team to work effectively with Treaty partners to promote Māori engagement.
• Support the team to build strong relationships with iwi, stakeholders, Conservation Boards, government agencies and internal partners.
• Provide strategic advice and navigate complex conservation, policy and regulatory issues.
• Drive continuous improvement through better systems, planning tools and efficient processes.
• Manage risk, competing priorities and programme delivery across multiple workstreams.

Skills

People leadership

Programme management

Influence stakeholders

Policy/planning

Regulatory environment

Communication

Continuous improvement

Job description

# Team Lead Management Planning at Department of Conservation, Canterbury## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role* Lead a nationally significant work programme at the heart of conservation planning and decision-making* Influence conservation outcomes and strategic priorities across Aotearoa* Christchurch-based with other locations considered**Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa****He angitūtanga | About the role**We have a Team Lead opportunity, ideally based in Christchurch (with other work locations considered), leading one half of a geographically dispersed team responsible for delivering DOC's national management planning programme.In this role you'll provide leadership to a team of eight, balancing people leadership, strategic delivery, and trusted advice in a rapidly evolving conservation and regulatory environment. You will work closely with your counterpart, the second Team Lead Management Planning.This role is less about being the technical expert and more about enabling others to succeed and do what they do best. You'll lead workload prioritisation, develop team capability, navigate organisational change and reform, and work closely with policy, regulatory and operational teams to deliver planning outcomes that support conservation across Aotearoa.**The position will be focused on:*** Leading the delivery of national management planning programmes and priorities* Enabling your team to work effectively with Treaty partners to promote Māori engagement and involvement with our work* Supporting the team to building strong relationships with iwi, stakeholders, Conservation Boards, government agencies and internal partners* Providing strategic advice and navigating complex conservation, policy and regulatory issues* Driving continuous improvement through better systems, planning tools, AI-enabled approaches and efficient business processes* Managing risk, competing priorities and programme delivery across multiple workstreams**Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience** We're looking for a proven people leader with strong judgement, experience of managing complex work programmes, and the ability to support and coach their team to build trusted relationships across iwi, government and other stakeholders. Experience in planning, policy, regulatory or natural resource environments would be valuable, but your ability to lead teams, influence outcomes, and drive continuous improvement will be what sets you apart. **If you have some of the following, we are keen to hear from you:*** Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams* Strong programme, planning or project leadership experience* Ability to understand broad organisational, regulatory and political contexts and provide sound judgement* Experience building trusted relationships and influencing across diverse stakeholder groups* Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex information into practical advice* Experience working within government, local government, natural resource management, planning, regulatory or policy environments* A continuous improvement mindset with experience improving systems, processes or ways of working* Understanding or willingness to learn Māori tikanga and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how it relates to your workClick here for the position description. **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. Want to know more? **Tonoa inaiānei | Apply now** Apply online with your CV and cover letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, let us know and we'll try to accommodate. **Salary:** $93,656.00 - $126,500.00 depending on skills and experience. **Eligibility:** You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment. **Rā whakakapi | Applications close** at 11:59 pm on Friday 13 November. This advert may close early, so please apply promptly. **Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries** about this role, please contact Kath Blakemore at [e-mail] Please note, we're unable to accept applications via email or provide feedback to applicants not shortlisted..## Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details| | || --- | --- || Employer: | Department of Conservation || Location: | Canterbury || Position type: | Ongoing - Full Time || Category: | Other || Date listed: | 29-Oct-2026 || Salary range: | N/A || Closing date: | 14-Nov-2026 || Reference: | JR102981\\_1793240169 || Attachment: | No File Attached || File links: | || Website: | http://www.doc.govt.nz/ |Note: You may be redirected to the employer's careers website.