Executive General Manager

The New Zealand Mines Rescue Service (NZMRS) plays a vital role in New Zealand's high-risk sectors by providing emergency preparedness, response services, and nationally recognised specialist training. As a trusted and respected NZQA-accredited Private Training Establishment with specialist response capability, NZMRS is committed to saving and preserving life, improving safety outcomes, and supporting the wellbeing of workers across New Zealand.

With the upcoming retirement of the incumbent Chief Executive, the Board is now seeking a forward-thinking Executive General Manager to lead the organisation into its next strategic phase, one focused on strengthening emergency response excellence while expanding commercial opportunities.

An insight into the role

Reporting to the Mines Rescue Trust Board, you will lead the organisation's strategic direction and day-to-day management, ensuring that NZMRS continues to deliver its core functions under the Mines Rescue Act while enhancing commercial sustainability.

Key leadership priorities will include:

• Building on strong foundations to grow commercial training and specialist services, with rail already a well-established sector and further opportunities emerging across high-risk industries nationally.
• Maintaining and enhancing emergency response preparedness and operational capability.
• Representing NZMRS as the primary ambassador and industry leader, developing trusted relationships with government agencies, levy-paying stakeholders, and commercial clients.
• Providing strong leadership across operations, training delivery, finance, and compliance, ensuring excellence in quality, safety, and performance.
• Inspiring a highly skilled, dedicated staff and volunteer brigade members to thrive and deliver outstanding outcomes.

The position will require regular domestic travel across regions, industry sites, and stakeholder engagements.

About you

A confident and influential senior leader, you will bring commercial acumen, credibility across industry and government, and proven experience driving organisational growth. You'll also bring:

• Demonstrated experience leading a multidisciplined organisation, ideally in high-risk, service-based or emergency operating environments.
• Strong financial stewardship, business development and commercial insight, including identifying and securing new partnerships and service opportunities.
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to build alignment across a diverse stakeholder base.
• A values-driven leadership style that empowers people, protects culture, and inspires performance through clarity, engagement, and trust.
• Knowledge of emergency response, extractives, or other relevant high-risk industries would be advantageous, but not essential.

Most importantly, you will care deeply about the mission and the people, ensuring NZMRS remains a highly trusted and valued national capability.

The role is preferably based at NZMRS's national headquarters based in Rapahoe on the West Coast, ensuring close proximity to core operations and the team. However, for the right candidate, flexibility around living location may be considered, provided regular presence on site is maintained.

A rare and rewarding leadership opportunity

This is more than an executive role, it's an opportunity to protect life, advance workforce safety, and secure the future of a nationally critical capability. You will make a tangible impact on workers, families, and communities throughout New Zealand.

If you're ready to lead a skilled and passionate organisation into an ambitious new era, we'd love to hear from you. For a confidential discussion, phone Mark Charles at Humanlogix