Director Forestry System

Director, Forestry System
- Lead and influence forestry operational policy
- Champion external engagement to raise resilience and improve the sector
- Significant senior leadership role for the Forestry sector

Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua│About MPI
The Ministry for Primary Industries is an incredibly diverse organisation helping to seize export opportunities for our primary industries, improve sector productivity, ensure the food we produce is safe, increase sustainable resource use, and protect New Zealand from biological risk.

Mō tō mātou rōpū | About the Team | Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Forest Service
As a branded business unit within MPI, we work with tangata whenua, landowners and the forestry and wood processing sectors to make the most of our forests contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand's social, cultural, environmental, and economic wellbeing.

Kōrero mō te tūranga│About the Role
Te Uru Rākau holds a unique position as the steward of the production forestry system in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We are driven by a multi-decade strategy to achieve our mission to make the most of our forests' contribution. We have a bold plan for transformation across the industry and are gearing up to support its delivery.
This key leadership role within Te Uru Rākau is firstly responsible for overseeing the implementation of all relevant forestry legislation and regulation on behalf of the branch, while ensuring that forestry operational policy is championed and developed accordingly to meet this bold plan.
You and your team will set a clear course for legislation and policy direction, supporting parliament where necessary to positively influence outcomes and ensure the right people are involved. You will own critical pieces of legislation like the Forests Act 1949 within the business, helping to establish the most appropriate plans, tools and systems to ensure ongoing compliance and delivery to the branch's obligations.
Critically, you will take an active role in broad external engagement to emphasise progressing shared outcomes that support the resilience and betterment of the forestry and wood industry. Taking an end to end view of the forestry system, and working closely with Ministers, Cabinet Committees, industry, investors and others, you will focus on addressing gaps in the system, progressing sustainable land management outcomes, expanding exotic and indigenous resources and reducing barriers to entry, among other initiatives.
Through these engagements your team will positively impact the direction of Forestry in New Zealand, making a difference towards economic, employment and environmental outcomes of the sector.

Mōu│About You
To be successful in the role, you will be an astute, strategic leader with a strong, end to end systems view. This is someone able to engage with and influence key senior stakeholders internally, across government and the wider sector, whilst striving towards a vision and focusing on long term, sector wide outcomes.
- Bring proven senior leadership strength and strategic delivery experience, with the ability to provide thought leadership and clear business planning, maintaining a focus on the long-term vision.
- Bring proven experience in regulatory decision making and leading complex programmes of work within the NZ system, including relevant knowledge of NZ legislative, legal and government policy law and how it operates.
- Can lead, develop and motivate multidisciplinary teams within an operational context.
- Bring strong relationship management experience, including the ability to successfully engage and partner with diverse audiences, navigating with appropriate sensitivity whilst balancing stakeholder needs.
- Have experience in both the private and public sectors, bringing a strong political nous and strategic awareness, as well as the ability to navigate the machinery of government at senior levels.

How to Apply│Me pēhea te tuku tono

**Please note**: Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory and this role requires a Ministry of Justice criminal history check and the ability to obtain Secret Security Clearance.