Human Resources Manager

Are you a passionate leader who thrives in creating exceptional work environments?
- High impact role with one of New Zealand's best places to work.
- Permanent role, Wellington location.

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

The Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) serves to protect and restore nature spaces and species across Aotearoa.

Tangata whenua are inextricably linked to the whenua and te taiao, and we desire a future where whanau, hapu and iwi can thrive in their role as rangatira and kaitiaki.

To tatou taiao. To tatou hitori. He taonga tuturu no Aotearoa. Maioha rawatia. Poipoia rawatia. Tukua.

Our nature. Our history. It's New Zealand's unique legacy. Enjoy it. Enrich it. Pass it on.

Our People and Culture story... The P&C group is embarking on an exciting transformational journey, driving a new strategic direction and ways of working and fostering collaboration both within P&C and throughout the organisation.

Our success is driven by a strong DOC culture, and we have now launched our new values and behaviours that will guide how we work together in 2025 and beyond. We are committed to weaving these values into our systems and processes, making them a central part of our everyday work. Our focus on leadership development will ensure that our leaders not only model these values but also bring them to life with their teams, supported by senior leadership every step of the way.

As part of our digital transformation, we are also launching a new Human Resources Information System (HRIS) that will deliver a fundamental change in the way People and Culture services are delivered, streamlining and improving our systems for a more efficient future.

**He angitutanga | About the role**

This is an exciting opportunity to join our People & Culture (P&C) team and make a significant impact. We are looking for an experienced, innovative, and strategic Human Resources (HR) leader to collaborate closely with our P&C Leadership team and senior leaders to oversee the implementation of people plans and ensure an integrated approach to P&C service delivery.

In this role, you will be instrumental in shaping our people strategy and providing expert HR guidance. You will lead a committed, dispersed team of HR professionals while managing key HR functions such as workforce planning, change management, and complex employment matters. Your leadership will ensure that our HR services and support are closely aligned with business objectives, proactively identifying and addressing challenges and opportunities to drive key conservation outcomes.

Key responsibilities:

- Lead a team of People and Culture Business Partners and Senior HR Advisors, ensuring the timely and effective resolution of people issues and providing leaders with high-quality advice and support.
- Build internal and external networks to stay abreast of industry trends, technology, and best practices, and leverage these insights to optimise delivery.
- Provide support in resolving complex or escalated HR issues, offering guidance and solutions to achieve resolution.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of people-related processes and systems by providing valuable insights and data.
- Manage relationships with external vendors and service providers to ensure the effective delivery of HR services.

**Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experience**

You will be a reliable and practical HR leader, bringing extensive expertise in HR generalist roles and strategic HR planning. As a leader, you will be proactive, approachable, and transparent, taking responsibility for challenges and promoting a collaborative, solution-focused approach.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

- a strong theoretical and practical understanding of HR principles, equivalent to a degree qualification, with broad experience
- strong leadership abilities with experience in guiding and inspiring teams to achieve their best performance
- extensive knowledge of HR best practices and current employment legislation
- exceptional verbal and written communication skills, capable of effectively conveying information at all levels
- proven ability to lead and manage dispersed teams, adapting to the demands of a dynamic and fast-paced environment
- ability to thrive in a demanding role, with the flexibility to handle multiple tasks and quickly adapt to changing priorities
- excellent interpersonal skills to work across teams and with external partners, building trust and fostering effective relationships
- solid background in employee relations (ER) and experience managing organisational change, ensuring smooth transitions and maintaining a positive work culture
- ability to navigate complex organisational dynamics, providing clear advice on sensitive issues, and driving improvements across the organization
- a deep commitment to Treaty partnership principles, with a strong understanding of te ao Maori, te reo me nga tikang