Senior Permissions Treaty Advisor at Department of Conservation, Otago

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Help regulate the use of conservation land and interactions with our wildlife
• Strong understanding of legislative frameworks
• Knowledge of how to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
• Full time, permanent, Christchurch based. Hokitika/Dunedin locations will be considered for the right candidate

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.


Mō te tūranga | About the role
Most activities on public conservation land - including interactions with protected wildlife, marine mammals or within marine reserves - need approval from DOC. Our Permissions Teams assess these applications to make sure activities protect the values of the land and meet our legislative responsibilities.

As a Senior Permissions Advisor (Treaty), you will manage complex applications from start to finish. These may relate to the Conservation Act, Wildlife Act, Crown Minerals and Mining Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. You will also support Permissions Advisors and decision makers to ensure our work reflects our legislative and Treaty obligations.

No two applications are the same. You'll work with a wide range of applicants, including tourism operators, government agencies, land developers and community groups who want to use public conservation land or interact with protected species.

One of the most rewarding parts of this role is the strong relationships you'll build across sectors and communities. You'll also join a collaborative team who take pride in producing high-quality, professional work.

This is a permanent, full-time role based in Christchurch. Applications for Hokitika and Dunedin locations are also welcomed and will be considered for the right candidate.

Click here for the Role Description


Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you:

• Experience working with a planning and or legislative processes
• Experience working with relevant conservation legislation
• Experience analysing large amounts of complex information to produce high quality reports and succinct recommendations
• Experience and skilled in managing a busy caseload

Desirable:

• Degree in resource management planning
• Experience in project management
• Experience coaching and mentoring kaimahi in a workplace setting

He aha ngā pāinga mōu? | What's in it for you?
DOC places importance on developing a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We're working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable and inclusive by default. You can learn more about what we offer here.

We support flexible work arrangements for our kaimahi who are working in a wide variety of roles and locations across Aotearoa.


Tonoa inaiānei | Apply now
Apply online with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills, experience and motivation for joining Te Papa Atawhai. Please note, due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept direct or emailed applications and provide feedback to those not shortlisted.

If you require any accommodations or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

The salary range for this position is $80,054 to $101,142 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 Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Nicci Mardle, Permissions Team Lead, at nmardle@doc.govt.nz