Principal Strategy and Investment Advisor at Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai

Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

11 Apr, 26

Salary

143000.0

Posted On

11 Jan, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Strategic Leadership, Policy, Investment Planning, Analytical Skills, Communication Skills, Partnership Building, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, Natural Resources, Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, Māori Tikanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, System Navigation, Project Management, Outcome Delivery

Industry

Government Administration

Description

Be part of a future-focused investment strategy and system stewardship team for recreation, tourism, and cultural heritage on public conservation land and waters Salary $109,160 to $143,000 Permanent, full-time role. Flexible work location Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa. The Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) serves to protect and restore nature across Aotearoa. When nature thrives, we all thrive. Ko tā Te Papa Atawhai he tiaki, he whakarauora anō hoki i te taiao puta noa i Aotearoa. He oranga taiao, he oranga tangata. The Biodiversity, Heritage and Visitors (BHV) Group has undertaken a recent growth phase following Budget 2025. Building on our strong foundation, we are strategically aligning to deliver significant new mandates, including our heritage and visitor strategies. This role sits within the Heritage and Visitor Systems team, part of the Heritage and Visitors Directorate. The Heritage and Visitor System team leads DOC’s investment strategy and system stewardship for recreation, tourism, and cultural heritage. This includes high-impact and complex system improvement initiatives like shaping the future of the visitor network across sites such as Milford Sound Piopiotahi, the Cultural Heritage Reset Programme and Access Charging implementation. Mō te tūranga | About the role As Principal Strategy and Investment Advisor, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Aotearoa’s visitor system. This position is focused on providing strategic leadership and investment advice that supports DOC’s long-term vision for heritage and visitor experiences. Your work will centre on delivering our five-year IVL Strategic Plan, ensuring that investment decisions are aligned with DOC’s priorities and deliver meaningful outcomes. You will help advance significant projects, with a particular emphasis on cultural heritage experiences under Tohu Whenua and contribute to the development of refreshed internal and external facing strategies. This role also involves strengthening the visitor investment system by improving targets, reporting, and prioritisation processes. You will work closely with MBIE and other agencies to align DOC’s efforts with the Government’s Tourism Growth Roadmap, ensuring that our strategies support national objectives for sustainable tourism and heritage protection. Your advice will influence system-wide settings and investment priorities, requiring you to navigate complex policy environments and build strong partnerships across government, iwi, industry, and communities. This is a high-impact role where your strategic thinking will help shape how visitors experience Aotearoa’s natural and cultural heritage for generations to come. Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience In this role, you’ll combine strategic leadership with the ability to navigate complex systems and deliver practical outcomes. You’ll draw on your experience in policy, strategy, or investment planning to provide clear, actionable advice that shapes the future of Aotearoa’s visitor system. Your success in this role will depend on your ability to build trusted relationships across iwi, government, and industry, while working confidently and comfortably in ambiguous settings. A future-focused mindset and a commitment to collaboration will be essential, along with a genuine passion for protecting heritage and enhancing visitor experiences. Summary of what we’re looking for Proven ability to lead at a strategic level and think systemically. Expertise in policy, strategy, or investment planning within heritage, tourism, or natural resources. Strong analytical and communication skills to deliver clear, persuasive advice. Skilled at building partnerships with iwi, hapū, government agencies, and industry stakeholders. Ability to turn high-level concepts into tangible outcomes in complex environments. Innovative and collaborative approach with a focus on continuous improvement. Understanding or willingness to learn Māori tikanga and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how it relates to your work Work in genuine partnership with Māori and act as an honourable treaty partner Being a genuine Treaty partner means: Putting Treaty relationships first in the way we work Showing respect in every partnership Growing our Treaty knowledge and Te Ao Māori capability Click here for the role description. Tonoa inaiānei | Apply now Apply online with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills, experience and motivation for undertaking this role. If you require any accommodations or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. The salary range for this position is $109,160 to $143,000 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being based on their relevant skills and experience. Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory – this includes holding a valid work visa that covers the whole period of employment. Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday 26 January 2026. Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Eammon Whitham at ewhitham@doc.govt.nz Please note that we have replaced our previous recruitment system with Workday, you will need to create a new Candidate Home account when applying for new roles. The Department of Conservation is a great place to work for anyone who is passionate about nature and the environment. Our people are responsible for caring for our land, water and native species. Spread throughout the country, they ensure that nature can thrive. They perform a huge range of tasks in roles from technical specialists to support staff and frontline rangers. Read more about Our role: About us

Responsibilities

As Principal Strategy and Investment Advisor, you will provide strategic leadership and investment advice to shape Aotearoa’s visitor system. You will work on significant projects and ensure alignment with DOC’s long-term vision for heritage and visitor experiences.