Director Regional Operations | Tumuaki Takiwa a Motu (NNI)

Senior conservation leadership opportunity.

Build and inspire high performing teams.

Regional, strategic stakeholder, leadership role.

Permanent Position

Whangarei, Kaitaia, Pewhairangi/ Bay of Islands or Kauri Coast locations

Lead conservation outcomes across Northern North Island, partnering with iwi and stakeholders to protect iconic landscapes and taonga species.

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Turoa

Mo te turanga | About the role

A unique opportunity has become available to join DOC as an Operations Director, leading the delivery of our conservation work in Northern North Island.

We are looking for a dedicated brave and influential leader, who has demonstrated experience leading high performing teams to join our national Operations Group.

Reporting to the Deputy Director-General, Operations, this role leads the work of a large and diverse region with four district offices based from Kaitaia in the north to Bay of Islands, Whangarei and Kauri Coast. The Director is also responsible for a large regional office, located in Whangarei, which has a wide range of support and technical staff.

In this role you will provide strategic leadership to the essential biodiversity, recreation/historic and community engagement conservation work delivered on the ground. The role has a strong Iwi and stakeholder engagement element and is responsible for maintaining close relationships and engagement with our iwi partners, commercial, community and government entities. You will be seen as the 'face of the organisation' in Northern North Island.

The role has the flexibility to be based within the wider region. Due to the distributed location of your teams, regular travel and overnight stays will be required.

Click here for the Role Description

Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experience

You will be seen as a credible and effective relationship builder and be comfortable working with a diverse stakeholder group. Being an experienced people leader, you will have the ability to inspire, motivate and lead teams operating across multiple locations. Your style will foster a culture of continuous improvement and high engagement, where health, safety and wellbeing are a top priority for all those you lead.

To be considered for the role you will demonstrate the following capabilities:

Proven operational leadership experience in a large and complex organisation (environmental or resource management related sector is desirable).

Strong skills and experience in working with iwi/hapu groups, and with Councils, Government agencies and stakeholders. Engage with others in a collaborative way.

Experience leading projects to completion within a fast paced, demanding environment.

Core people leadership skills and commitment to developing your team.

Ability to spot and mitigate risks as well as respond to emergency events.

Ability to work on a number of complex issues across a broad front simultaneously.

Mo te tima | About the team

We are deeply committed to conservation, focused on ensuring our ecosystems from mountains to sea are thriving and that people are connected to nature and to our cultural heritage. Our work is anchored by a commitment to be an honourable Treaty partner, recognising that giving effect to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a legislative requirement. We work as a strong regional team, connected to the broader mission of a large organisation that manages a third of New Zealand.

The Tai Tokerau / NNI Region

Te Tai Tokerau, Northern North Island is one of ten DOC regions throughout the country. 270,000 hectares of the region is public conservation land, administered by DOC. The NNI Operations Team is comprised of approximately 120 people located in four districts and are well supported by other DOC teams across the Region.

There is a rich diversity of ecosystems and geology containing many taonga species including many of New Zealand's most threatened species of flora and fauna, with more than 37,000 hectares of kauri forest ecosystems containing more than three-quarters of New Zealand's remaining mature kauri trees. Public conservation land in the region is varied with seven predator-free offshore islands nature reserves, three marine reserves and two marine mammal sanctuaries, two of the nationally prioritised Nga Awa freshwater catchment projects, and breeding grounds for tara iti.

From a heritage and recreational perspective the region has some of New Zealand's best-known and most-loved visitor sites, including Kaipara Harbour, Waipoua Forest, Te Rerenga Wairua, Ruapekapeka Pa, Cape Brett, Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve and the Bay of Islands walks including Kororipo Historic Pa walk, Marsden Cross track and Rainbow Falls walk. Further, the Region has extensive Maori and European heritage, dating back to the very beginning of settlement of New Zealand and the first interactions between Maori and pakeha. Places of outstanding cultural and historical significance, include Te Rerenga Wairua, Ruapekapeka Pa, Rangihoua Heritage Park, Kororipo Heritage Park and Rakaumangamanga (Cape Brett). The whenua and moana also provides the basis for considerable commercial activity which contributes significantly to the local and national economy.

Te Tai Tokerau has both settled and pre-settlement Iwi Authorities recognised by the Crown under the Maori Fisheries Act 2004. Additionally, some iwi and hapu groups have been formally acknowledged by the Crown through historic Treaty claims settlements. There are 13 Iwi Authorities in Te Tai Tokerau, 8 of these Iwi Authorities have Post Settlement Governance Entities.

He aha nga painga mou? | What's in it for you?

If you are ready to embark on a fulfilling journey that combines passion with purpose, then this could be the role for you. This diverse role will see you making a difference - from saving species to managing significant assets, to nurturing key relationships, keeping staff safe, responding to emergencies, and making public conservation land available to visitors. This work will connect you to nature and communities with a long-term goal that will inspire you every day.

DOC is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve, creating an inclusive workplace culture, supporting the relationship between Maori and the Crown, and lifting our cultural capability. We're driven by our values and behaviours, and encourage our people to bring their unique perspectives to work, in pursuit of our collective aspirations. Our commitment to well-being and professional development includes:

Career development, secondment and training opportunities to help you realise your goals.

Study assistance in programmes that are relevant to your work.

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and discounted medical insurance.

Great discounts on DOC accommodation and outdoor apparel and gear so you're ready for your next adventure.

Want to know more?

Apply online with your CV and cover letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation. We're unable to accept emailed applications or provide feedback to applicants not shortlisted.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, let us know and we'll try to accommodate.

Eligibility: You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Please note, we are not engaging with recruitment agencies for this role.

Ra whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday 9th August 2026. Interviews will be commencing the week starting 24 August 2026.

Me he patai ano, whakapa mai | For further enquiries, please contact Debby Drummond, Executive Assistant, Regional Operations on 027 204 7284 or ddrummond@doc.govt.nz