Statutory Entities Manager at Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai

Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

09 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

11 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

People Management, Complex Environments, Politically Sensitive, Minister-Level Advising, Relationship-Focused, Public Sector Operations, Senior Leader Interaction, Information Analysis, Clear Communication, Sound Judgement, Planning, Organizing Team Work, Statutory Entity Support, Governance Advice, System Oversight, Partnership with Māori

Industry

Government Administration

Description

Lead a key function that supports Ministers, statutory bodies, and national conservation governance. Play a major role in appointments across 70+ statutory entities and work closely with the New Zealand Conservation Authority. Based in Wellington with flexible working options. Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa The Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai protects and restores 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. He angitūtanga | About the role We are seeking a Statutory Entities Manager as our current manager prepares to retire. This is a central role that ensures strong governance support, clear statutory oversight, and trusted advice to Ministers. The position is responsible for the oversight and responsibility of DOC’s work with the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA), 15 Conservation Boards, and other statutory organisations such as Fish & Game New Zealand, the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII), and the Game Animal Council. A critical part of this role is leading DOC’s statutory appointment’s function. Each year, you will oversee more than 100 appointments across 70+ entities, guided by around 38 pieces of legislation. You will manage the full process—from advertising to Cabinet decisions—working closely with iwi, nominating bodies, and Ministers. You will also provide oversight of the governance of statutory entities such as QEII, including setting performance expectations, assessing performance, and providing independent financial and nonfinancial advice to Ministers. This role will focus on: Leading statutory appointments, provision of governance advice, and system oversight. Building trusted relationships with Ministers, statutory entities, iwi partners, and the NZCA. Supporting performance and financial stewardship of statutory entities. Acting as Executive Officer to the NZCA and coordinating its governance and planning. Leading a small team of five to support consistent high quality, timely work with a focus on customer satisfaction. Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience To succeed, you will have strong people management skills and work confidently in complex and politically sensitive environments. You will be comfortable advising at minister-level, remain calm under pressure, and bring a persuasive, relationship-focused approach to your work. You will understand how the public sector operates and have experience working with senior leaders and Ministers. You will be skilled at analysing information, communicating clearly, making sound judgements, and planning and organising team work effectively. A commitment to working in partnership with Māori is essential. To be considered for the role you will have: Experience supporting statutory entities, boards, or governance functions, with a good understanding of public sector and statutory entity regulatory systems. Knowledge of good governance principles, assurance and integrity systems. Experience of end-to-end statutory appointment processes and Cabinet committee‑ related work. Strong analytical and financial capability. Excellent relationship management and communication skills. Ability to lead and develop a small team. Commitment to partnering with Māori. Continuous business improvement mindset. We are also interested if you have: Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application to your work. Understanding of, or willingness to learn, te reo Māori and tikanga. Experience working in genuine partnership with Māori. Click here for the position description. Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What’s in it for you? At DOC, we value integrity, connection, and purpose. We support our people to grow, collaborate, and do their best work for nature and for Aotearoa. DOC is committed to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Learn more about what we offer here. Tono ināianei | Apply now Apply online with your CV and a cover letter that explains why you are the right fit for this role. We value all types of experience, including committee/ boards, community work, and volunteer-based board and governance work. If you need adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know. Please indicate your salary expectations in your covering letter. Eligibility to work in New Zealand is required. Rā katinga | Applications close: 11:59pm on Wednesday 25 March 2026. Me he pātai anō | For enquiries: Kelley Reeve at kreeve@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

This central role ensures strong governance support, clear statutory oversight, and trusted advice to Ministers, primarily focusing on leading statutory appointments across over 70 entities and overseeing governance for organizations like the NZCA and Conservation Boards. The manager will also lead a small team of five, build trusted relationships with stakeholders, and support the performance and financial stewardship of statutory entities.