Job Description
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
Conservation Planning Advisor (Management Planner)
Key selling points:
- Develop strategic planning documents to protect our special places and species for future generations.
- Partner with tangata whenua in the development of statutory planning documents.
- Two permanent and one 12-month fixed term opportunity
- Work in a diverse and motivated team | Wellington, Hamilton or Christchurch location.
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.
He angitūtanga | About the role
As a Conservation Planning Advisor in our Statutory Planning team, you'll be responsible for leading planning review and development processes, producing statutory conservation plans, and then providing advice on implementation.
The planning documents you prepare will provide direction for how public conservation lands and waters will be managed. These documents include conservation management strategies, national park plans and conservation management plans.
Effective partnership with tangata whenua in planning processes is a key part of this role. We work with Treaty Partners to realise their aspirations and interests, build strong working relationships with multiple teams across DOC and engage with the public and other stakeholders to understand what conservation means to them.
You'll also be working with external statutory bodies, including conservation boards, the New Zealand Conservation Authority and the Minister of Conservation.
We are a national team of statutory planners with a great mix of skills, interests, backgrounds, and approaches. This role will give the successful applicant a diverse range of challenges and opportunities – public engagement with local communities, partnering with Treaty partners, development of robust future proof planning approaches, and exposure to many interesting teams within DOC.
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
- You may come from a background in planning, policy, legal, resource management or stakeholder engagement. Either way, you'll have skills and experience in the following areas:
- Strong analytical and organisational ability.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Experience in planning processes – either plan or policy development or plan analysis.
- Knowledge of environmental planning disciplines, legislation or policy development.
- Sound working knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Excellent communication, engagement, and relationship management skills.
- An understanding of te ao Māori would be an advantage, as would experience working with tangata whenua: iwi, hapū and whānau
Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | 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 kamahi who are working in a wide variety of roles and locations across Aotearoa. Flexible options will be considered based on your role and in discussion with your leader.
Apply online with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills, experience and motivation for joining Te Papa Atawhai. Please indicate on your cover letter which role you are interested in (permanent, fixed term or both). 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 throughout the recruitment process, please do let us know.
The salary range for this position is $79,656 to $100,639 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being based on their relevant skills and experience.
You are encouraged to discuss secondment opportunities with your manager. Secondments should offer the opportunity to build capability in line with your development plan. You must seek the support of your line manager (minimum Tier 4) in writing before applying for a secondment opportunity and attach it to your application.
Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory – this includes holding a valid work visa that covers the whole period of employment.
Depending on the volume of applications received, we may close this advertisement early, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Due to high volumes, we are not engaging with recruitment agencies for this role.
Rā katinga | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Thursday 26th June 2025
Me he pātai anō | For further enquiries, contact Carissa Hay, Recruitment Advisor cahay@doc.govt.nz
Taupānga | Job reference: DOC/1866826