Team Lead Management Planning

New Zealand Government; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government leads a nationally significant conservation planning programme from Christchurch, with other locations considered. This Team Lead role focuses on enabling a dispersed team to deliver planning outcomes that support conservation across Aotearoa.

You will balance people leadership, strategic delivery, and trusted advice, coordinating with policy, regulatory and operations teams to progress Treaty partner relationships and system improvements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong programme or project leadership capabilities.
• Ability to understand broad regulatory and political contexts and provide sound judgement.
• Experience building trusted relationships across iwi, government and other stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills translating complex information into practical advice.
• Experience working in government, natural resource planning or policy environments.
• Willingness to learn Maori tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of national management planning programmes and priorities.
• Enable your team to work effectively with Treaty partners to promote Maori engagement.
• 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 leadership

Policy & regulatory

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic advising

Change management

Job description

Lead a nationally significant work programme at the heart of conservation planning and decision-makingInfluence conservation outcomes and strategic priorities across AotearoaChristchurch-based with other locations consideredOur vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao TuroaHe angitutanga | About the roleWe 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 prioritiesEnabling your team to work effectively with Treaty partners to promote Maori engagement and involvement with our workSupporting the team to building strong relationships with iwi, stakeholders, Conservation Boards, government agencies and internal partnersProviding strategic advice and navigating complex conservation, policy and regulatory issuesDriving continuous improvement through better systems, planning tools, AI-enabled approaches and efficient business processesManaging risk, competing priorities and programme delivery across multiple workstreamsNga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experienceWe'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 teamsStrong programme, planning or project leadership experienceAbility to understand broad organisational, regulatory and political contexts and provide sound judgementExperience building trusted relationships and influencing across diverse stakeholder groupsStrong communication skills with the ability to translate complex information into practical adviceExperience working within government, local government, natural resource management, planning, regulatory or policy environmentsA continuous improvement mindset with experience improving systems, processes or ways of workingUnderstanding or willingness to learn Maori tikanga and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how it relates to your workClick here for the position description.He aha nga painga mou? | 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 inaianei | Apply nowApply 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.Ra whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Friday 13 November. This advert may close early, so please apply promptly.Me he patai ano, whakapa mai | For further enquiries about this role, please contact Kath Blakemore at [e-mail] note, we're unable to accept applications via email or provide feedback to applicants not shortlisted..