Chief of Staff | Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Permanent | Full Time

Christchurch | Ōtautahi

Kia hiwa rā!

The Office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is seeking an exceptional individual for a significantly influential roles in the organisation - Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive Officer. This is a rare opportunity for a sharp, seasoned operator to sit at the centre of a complex and high-stakes organisation, enabling its most senior leader to operate at their best.

The Chief of Staff is the CEO’s trusted enabler, strategic antenna and organisational nerve centre - the person who keeps the priorities moving, the intelligence flowing and the machine running. You will work across the full breadth of Te Rūnanga Group and its external environment, synthesising information, managing complexity, and ensuring nothing that matters falls through the cracks.

Based in the Office of the Chief Executive and reporting directly to the CEO, you will operate at the intersection of strategy, governance, politics and delivery. You will lead through influence, not authority – and you will thrive in that space.

Mō te Tūnga – About the Role

The Chief of Staff will:

Keep the CEO thoroughly prepared for every engagement, hui, decision and conversation - anticipating needs before they are articulated

Maintain an active read of the political landscape and translate this into concise, actionable intelligence for the CEO

Monitor delivery across Tuhiraki (the Senior Leadership Team of the Office of Te Rūnanga O Ngāi Tahu) and the wider Group against the CEO’s strategic priorities, escalating risks and holding the right conversations

Draft and refine high-quality correspondence, speeches, briefing notes and board papers on behalf of the CEO

Coordinate cross-functional initiatives and information flows, removing blockers and ensuring alignment across teams

Lead or support high-priority special projects, reviews and workstreams as directed by the CEO

Manage the CEO’s governance inputs, ensuring timely, high-quality papers and clear tracking of board commitments and resolutions

Act as a trusted connector across the Group, building credibility with senior leaders, governance figures and external partners

Ko wāi koe - What We Are Looking For

We need someone with rare capabilities: the political intelligence to read a room, the writing ability to match any audience, the organisational discipline to hold a hundred threads, and the judgement to know which ones matter. The ideal candidate will bring:

Substantial experience working at or adjacent to senior executive leadership - in a chief of staff, chief advisor or equivalent high-trust role

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt voice and register across a wide range of audiences and contexts

Outstanding political and organisational intelligence - reads people, rooms and systems accurately and acts accordingly

Proven ability to synthesise complex information quickly and communicate it with clarity and precision

Highly organised and disciplined, with rigorous attention to detail and the systems instincts to maintain quality at pace

Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, operate under pressure and maintain composure in fast-moving environments

A sophisticated understanding of the political, governmental and iwi landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand

Trusted, discreet and impeccable in judgement - comfortable holding sensitive information and operating with complete confidentiality

A tertiary qualification in a relevant field (legal, policy, politics, business, communications or management)

An understanding of, or genuine eagerness to engage with, Ngāi Tahu values, tikanga and te reo Māori

Above all, you are a finisher. Proactive, anticipatory and driven by outcomes - you don’t wait to be asked, you identify what is needed and move on it. Experience in or a strong connection to an iwi organisational context will set you apart.

Mō Mātou – About Us

Established in 1996, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is the organisation that services the tribe’s statutory rights and ensures the benefits of the Settlement grow for future generations. Everything we do is to deliver increased value and build a stronger economic, social and cultural base for Ngāi Tahu Whānui – “Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei” (for us and our children after us).

We are a values-led organisation that invests in the professional development of our kāimahi (employees). You will have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of Ngāi Tahu histories and aspirations, work within a dynamic and excellence-driven culture, and contribute to intergenerational outcomes. We offer flexible working arrangements and are committed to supporting the wellbeing of you and your whānau.

Find out more about us: https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/

For a copy of the position description, or for confidential enquiries, please contact Claire Bourne on email claire.bourne@ngaitahu.iwi.nz.

Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai!

Job Details

Reference #

36690

Business areas

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Posted on

Friday 24 Jul 2026

Closes on

09 Aug 2026 12:00

Expertise

Executive & General Management, Human Resources, Recruitment and Payroll

Work type(s)

Full-time, Permanent