Team Lead Tuora Mahi (Operations) | Ngā Whenua Rāhui

Department of Conservation (DOC); Opotiki; On-site; NZD 94,000 - 119,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Conservation (DOC) in Ōpōtiki is seeking a Team Lead Tuora Mahi (Operations) to provide operational leadership and oversee conservation activities across Central and Northern regions. You will manage a team, coordinate programme delivery, and foster strong partnerships with Māori landowners and iwi.

The role focuses on leadership, planning, and performance, ensuring safe, high-quality conservation outcomes on Māori land, with a commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience inspiring, leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Proven ability to coordinate operational programmes across geographically dispersed locations.
• Strong knowledge of conservation management and landowner engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead a regional team delivering conservation programmes and projects.
• Provide operational oversight of activities across Ngā Whenua Rāhui kawenata areas.
• Build and maintain partnerships with Māori landowners, whānau, hapū and iwi.
• Ensure work programmes are planned, delivered and monitored effectively.
• Manage resources, priorities and risks to achieve objectives.
• Support a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Contribute to strategic planning and operational decision-making.
• Champion health, safety and wellbeing across field-based operations.

Skills

People leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-regional coordination

Problem solving

Job description

• Bring your effective operational leadership, coordination, and oversight to this role
• Lead conservation outcomes protecting Māori-owned whenua and biodiversity
• Full time, permanent role based in Ōpōtiki
• Salary Range: $93,656 - $118,510, depending on skills and experience

Support our kaupapa of protecting the natural integrity of Māori land and preserving mātauranga Māori

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

Ngā Whenua Rāhui serves to encourage the voluntary protection of indigenous biodiversity on Māori owned land with special emphasis to recognise the cultural and spiritual values of those lands, while recognising the rights guaranteed to Māori Landowners under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

To learn more about Ngā Whenua Rāhui, visit Ngā Whenua Rāhui

Mō te tūranga | About the role

As Team Lead Tuora Mahi (Operations), you will provide operational leadership, coordination and oversight of conservation activities delivered across the Central and Northern regions. You will lead a team of passionate conservation professionals responsible for managing and supporting Ngā Whenua Rāhui kawenata agreements and ensuring high-quality delivery of conservation outcomes.

This is a people leadership position focused on operational excellence, relationship management, and the successful delivery of conservation initiatives on protected Māori-owned land.

The position will be focussed on:

• Lead, motivate and support a regional team delivering conservation programmes and projects.
• Provide operational oversight of conservation activities undertaken across Ngā Whenua Rāhui kawenata areas in the Central and Northern regions.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Māori landowners, whānau, hapū and iwi.
• Ensure conservation work programmes are planned, delivered and monitored effectively.
• Manage resources, priorities and risks to achieve organisational objectives.
• Support a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Contribute to strategic planning and operational decision-making within Ngā Whenua Rāhui.
• Champion health, safety and wellbeing across field-based operations.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We're looking for an experienced operational leader who can combine strong people leadership with a genuine commitment to conservation and working in partnership with Māori.

If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you:

• Proven experience inspiring, leading and developing high-performing teams, with a strong drive for results through collaboration.
• Proven ability to coordinate operational programmes across geographically dispersed locations, supported by strong planning, prioritisation and problem-solving skills.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in conservation management, including biodiversity protection, natural and cultural heritage, Māori landowner aspirations, and pest management programmes involving predator, ungulate and plant pest control.
• Exceptional relationship management and communication skills, with experience engaging and influencing iwi, hapū, whānau, Māori landowners, community groups and other stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, confidence working within tikanga Māori, and the ability to build meaningful Treaty partnerships and value exchange opportunities.
• A current full New Zealand driver license.

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate their ability to network and connect with whanāu/hapū/iwi across the Ngā Whenua Rāhui Central and North regional operational role.

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.Want to know more?

Salary: $93,656 - $118,510, depending on skills and experience.

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

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

Rā whakakapi | Applications close

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

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries

about this role, please contact Whakarae Henare, Pou Ngā Whenua Rāhui, [e-mail]. Please note, we're unable to accept applications via email or provide feedback to applicants not shortlisted.