Kaihautū | Director - Capability Development Oversight at Department of Conservation, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Newly created strategic role at executive level.
• Focus on building our Māori workforce and cultural capability.
• National focus, Wellington location.

Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata

If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive

Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (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.

Mō tēnei tūranga | About the role

Our Te Pae Whaitake Tiriti (Treaty Relationships) team has a role for an experienced Senior leader to lead our Te Pūkenga Treaty Capability Development Programme. Our ability to be a good Treaty Partner is significantly enhanced when we anchor our mahi in te reo Māori, te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori. This role will build, support, and strengthen our Māori cultural competence across our organisation. Based in Wellington, the key outcomes for this role include:

• developing additional and supporting existing work programmes that move the internal culture towards being an honourable Treaty partner
• ensure DOC is measurably improving te ao Māori and te reo Māori capability alongside Whāinga Amorangi and Maihi Karauna.

We are working towards purposefully engaging and developing authentic relationships between tangata whenua and the Crown, supporting Māori aspirations and delivering on our responsibilities under Te Tiriti and section 4 of the Conservation Act.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

Bring your true authentic self to Te Papa Atawhai. This role requires someone who is highly astute, can share narratives that connect people to the delivery of our work and the strategic insight to influence others.

An understanding of the complexities of navigating the machinery of government and having the courage to indigenise and support systematic changes to inequitable systems, processes and policies will show our commitment to bringing Te Tiriti, to life.

In addition, our ideal person will bring:

• a high degree of competency in Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga
• experience in developing Māori cultural capability at scale
• experienced leader with an understanding of kaupapa Māori methodologies and frameworks
• sound understanding of the Te Tiriti as it relates to organisational performance
• experience in integrating wide ranging information to support effective decision making 
• exceptional people skills including influence, facilitation, collaboration and negotiationStrong working relationships with Treaty Partners, teams and key roles across organisations
• ability to plan and organise large and complex programmes of work.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What's in it for you?

Te Papa Atawhai is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve, creating an inclusive workplace culture, supporting the relationship between Māori and the Crown, and lifting our cultural capability. We encourage our people to bring their authentic self and unique perspectives to work, in pursuit of our collective aspirations. Our commitment to well-being and professional development includes:

• Flexible working opportunities suited to your role.
• Career development, secondment and training opportunities to help you realise your goals.
• Study assistance in programmes that are relevant to your work.
• Te Pukenga Atawhai – Cultural Capability Development Programme.

Tono ināianei | Apply now

Apply online via the DOC Careers Centre with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills experience and motivation for joining Te Papa Atawhai. 

Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory – this includes holding a valid work visa that covers the whole period of employment.

Applications close at 5 pm on Tuesday, 4 April 2023.

Further enquiries contact Tame Malcolm, 027 281 9746

Job Reference: DOC/1705309