Biodiversity Manager

Would you be excited to lead a high-performing team working to protect some of NZ's most threatened species?
- Are you looking for a leadership role that is more aligned with your personal values?
- Live in a friendly community on the doorstep of the spectacular Fiordland National Park
- Permanent, full-time role based in Te Anau, with a team culture that embraces flexible working

The Biodiversity Manager will oversee a large team working on a diverse range of conservation programmes including the monitoring and management of endangered species: kākā, kea, kiwi/tokoeka, pekapeka, tīeke, mōhua, whio and seabird species as well as a marine mammal programme for Dusky dolphin and humpback whale, and a monitoring programme for the Fiordland Marine Reserves.
Fiordland is world class and famous for its natural icons like Piopiotahi / Milford Sound and three of the 10 Great Walks. It is a passionately protected slice of New Zealand's cultural, geological, and pioneering past with many taonga species. Living in Te Anau means you get to enjoy one of New Zealand's most spectacular pieces of natural wilderness as your backyard. It fosters a sense of appreciation that is often lost in big cities.

Toitū te marae a Tāne, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata
If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive

Te Papa Atawhai, Department of Conservation (DOC) serves to protect and sustain nature across Aotearoa. We put nature and people at the heart of our mahi, guided by te reo Māori, te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We do this by:

- Protecting land, species, ecosystems, and cultural heritage for conservation purposes
- Managing threats and adverse impacts
- Being a voice for conservation
- Connecting people to nature

He angitūtanga | About the role
The Biodiversity Manager role is unique to DOC in Te Anau. This is due to the large size of our team and the number and complexity of projects we work on. It's easiest to think of it as an Operations Manager role, specifically for our Biodiversity team.
The Biodiversity Manager (officially known as Principal Ranger in the role description), reports to the Operations Manager and is a key member of the Te Anau Leadership Team. There are two other main teams in DOC Te Anau who the Biodiversity team work alongside. The Community team is focused on public engagement (including events and running the Visitor Centre) and permissions work. The Heritage and Visitor team manages our Great Walks and maintenance of infrastructure including huts and tracks. As part of the wider leadership team, you will be working to maintain a high-performance culture across the district which values safety, continuous improvement, operational discipline, partnership and collaboration.
With the support of technical experts and supervisors within your team, you will be responsible for driving the future of biodiversity across the Te Anau District. We work collaboratively across projects and the Biodiversity Manager will have a broad overview of all projects to ensure the team is prioritising their work to maximise biodiversity outcomes and deliver high quality conservation outputs.

**The position will be focused on**:

- High level vision to prioritise Te Mana o te Taiao (NZ Biodiversity Strategy), outcomes focused, reaching milestones, and planning for the future of conservation in Fiordland
- Leading a motivated group of rangers to develop a culture and strategy that will enable every member of the team to thrive in their role
- Overseeing the work programmes of around 15 permanent staff, plus additional seasonal rangers, with the support of two Supervisors. You will ensure the team nails budget management and effectively sets work priorities
- There is a strong relationship management component to this role, including working alongside whānau, hapū, iwi collaboratively and effectively, as well as the community, businesses, and others

This role is primarily office-based, but you will have a willingness to get outside and join our mahi on the ground

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
You will be an experienced people leader who is skilled at inspiring, motivating, and directing teams. Most importantly we are looking for the right person to fit into our high performing and collaborative group. Contributing to a positive team culture is one of our top priorities.
We are keen to hear from you if you have the following attributes:

- A deep passion for New Zealand's people, taonga species and ecosystems
- Collaborative leadership style and experience leading teams in a range of settings
- Experience and genuine interest in building and running a successful team - helping facilitate staff to be happy, productive, and successful in their roles
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, with the ability to work alongside people from all walks of life
- A tertiary qualification, or equivalent experience and achievements, in management