Leader - Land and Waterways at Land Information New Zealand, Christchurch

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Lead a high-performing team responsible for managing some of New Zealand's most significant Crown land and waterway assets. This is an opportunity to influence how the Crown Estate is managed, protected and enhanced for future generations while building strong partnerships with iwi, communities and key stakeholders across Aotearoa.

The Land and Waterway team oversees our land, waterways, forestry, mining portfolios, which includes leasing, and property management. Some of the activities include:

• Increasing utilization of the crown estate and actively looking for opportunities
• Creating annual asset inspections
• Understanding sustainable land use and impacts of leasing
• Compliance with national policy statements and regional/district plans

To succeed in this role, you will need strong experience in green space and/or land and waterway management, including an understanding of the environmental complexities which accompany it. You will work collaboratively with critical stakeholders, iwi partners and internal staff to ensure that our land and waterway portfolio is well cared for through scheduled maintenance, monitoring of applications and understanding land liabilities. This role will work extensively across district/regional councils and special interest groups.

This is an exciting time to join us and support the Crown Estate we are responsible for to ensure it's well managed and enhanced for existing and future generations.

Our Crown Property leaders work collaboratively to ensure that portfolios meet legislative and maintenance requirements, and extensively with iwi on treaty settlement properties.

There is preference for this role to be based in our Christchurch office and requires some national travel. You'll need to be comfortable on the road and connecting with people from all backgrounds. A clean, unrestricted driver's license is essential.

This role blends technical expertise with strategic thinking and people leadership, it's ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and wants to lead meaningful land management work in service of New Zealand communities.

He pūkenga tou - Skills & Experience

• Experience in leading highly productive teams to deliver complex work packages.
• Proven experience in managing land, waterways and green space assets, including land use for recreational activities and contaminated land.
• A solid understanding of the legal risk and financial aspects of land and waterways management
• Strong working knowledge of laws and regulations surrounding land obligations including Resource Management Act 1991, Biosecurity Act 1993, Forests Act 1949 and relevant national policy statements.
• Experience working with or managing contractors and reactive, scheduled and planned maintenance.
• Experience in working collaboratively with iwi partners
• Proven experience in coaching, mentoring and guiding teams and individuals in a way that builds their knowledge and capability, and a strong team culture
• A full, unrestricted, and clean driver's license
• Proven experience in customer service management.

The expected appointing range for this role is $150,000 to $180,000 depending on skills and experience.

  Ngā mea e tukuna ana e tātau – What we offer our employees 

• Interesting work which impacts Aotearoa as we care for whenua, moana and arawai.
• Wellbeing allowance reimbursement
• Ability to purchase additional leave
• Annual Flu Vaccinations
• Reduced Health Insurance Premiums
• Diverse groups and networks
• If eligible for paid parental leave, you will be entitled to a top up payment for the first 18 weeks of the 26 weeks.
• A minimum of four weeks and three days annual leave

Te Tākinatanga - Our Story

Toitū Te Whenua plays a vital role in understanding, developing, and caring for New Zealand's whenua, moana and arawai (land, sea and waterways). Whether you're developing our products and services to support our customers, managing the Crown estate, engaging with our iwi partners, or helping us be an effective regulator, your contribution can make a difference. Our mahi helps New Zealanders have confidence that the development of our land, communities and country is being planned from an informed and expert position that balances environmental, social, cultural, and economic considerations, now and for future generations.

Our Kia Toipoto Intentions - Public Service Gender, Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Pay Gap Action Plan

Toitū Te Whenua is a diverse team of individuals with different experience and perspectives. This drives our culture and high performance.  We know that people from underrepresented groups and women in particular don't apply for roles if they're not a 100% match, but we're not looking for perfection, we're looking for potential.  As an inclusive and supportive employer, we value difference and want to encourage anyone interested to apply, regardless of whether you tick all the boxes or not. As an organisation we embrace diversity, encourage work life balance and have a flexible approach to the way we work which means you will quickly feel connected and valued.

Tono mai - How to Apply

If you're eyeing up this role and believe you've got what it takes, please apply, or get in touch with the team. 

To apply, please click “Apply Online.” You'll be taken through to our Toitū Te Whenua Careers Centre where you'll be able to review further information about the responsibilities and accountabilities of this role in the Position Description. You'll be able to complete your online application form and upload a copy of your CV/Cover Letter. 

Please note, while applications close on 26 July, we may be reviewing applications as they are received and may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.

For tracking and evaluation purposes, all applications must be submitted via our on-line process. You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to be eligible for this position. 

You may notice that the Position Description title for this role (BBR & Level) doesn't match the advertised title.  At Toitū Te Whenua we design our roles around shared capabilities (rather than focusing on tasks). This means our position descriptions are broad, one position description can cover many roles, this is known as Broad Based Role (BBR). Using BBR allows us to be responsive to our customers and to strengthen the connections across our organisation. It also gives us the flexibility to provide wider opportunities to our people, to further their careers.

If you have any questions about this role or working at Toitū Te Whenua, please email opportunities@linz.govt.nz  and our People Services Team will be in touch with you.