This is a newly established charitable entity which requires a CEO who can communicate the vision, build systems, lead people, grow revenue streams and deliver complex restoration programmes at scale.
 

About the role:

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will provide strategic and operational leadership for Raukūmara Pae Maunga and be responsible for a specialist team implementing large-scale ecosystem recovery initiatives. 

 

Key responsibilities include:

• Overall management and leadership of kaimahi

• Full operational oversight, fostering innovative systems and workflows

• Financial stewardship, including sustainability, commercial outcomes and fund generation

• Leadership of large-scale ecological restoration operations (including pest control, monitoring and restoration programmes)

• Community, iwi and stakeholder relationship development and engagement

• Representation and liaison with central and local government, the Department of Conservation and funders (including at sector and international environmental forums)

• Strategic input and implementation of the Trust’s strategic directives

• Building a cohesive and agile leadership team and a strong organisational culture

• Oversight of HR systems, processes and legal compliance

• Leadership of a health and safety-focused workforce and operation

• Driving innovation in conservation practice, restoration methods, technology and iwi-led environmental enterprise

  

About you:

You will be an experienced leader with a strong operational and financial capability and a proven ability to deliver complex programmes.

 

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• 3–5+ years’ leadership experience in conservation, land restoration, environmental management or primary industries

• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary teams

• Strong financial and operational management capability, including fundraising experience

• Experience engaging with government agencies and funders

• Demonstrated ability to work in partnership with iwi and hapū and uphold tikanga

• Experience leading an iwi-based organisation or kaupapa Māori entity (preferred and highly advantageous)

• Experience working across both Māori and mainstream organisations, including international organisations (preferred)

• Experience managing complex mahi programmes and large-scale operations

• Strong relationship-building, communication and stakeholder engagement skills

• A values-driven, agile and systems-thinking leadership style

  

Benefits and remuneration:

This role attracts a competitive remuneration package including a work vehicle, reflecting the seniority, responsibility and strategic importance of the position.

Additional benefits include:

• The opportunity to lead a nationally significant ecological and cultural restoration initiative, with international relevance

• A high-impact, legacy leadership role with an intergenerational kaupapa

• The ability to shape and grow a new organisation from the ground up

• Strong governance support from an engaged Board of Trustees

• A values-driven organisational kaupapa and strong iwi partnerships

• Professional autonomy and influence at a national level with international aspiration

 

Could you be the first CEO of this unique and leading organisation?

This is a legacy leadership role for a person who wants to shape and scale one of New Zealand’s most important ecological and cultural restoration initiatives and leave a lasting impact for future generations.  The location of the key office of the Chief Executive Officer is negotiable, with a preference of being located within the Eastern Bay of Plenty or Tairawhiti confirmed. 

 

How to apply

All applications must be submitted via our online application portal.

For further information, including a detailed position description, please contact Tammy-Lee Holmes: 

jobs@peoplehq.nz 

0800 4 PPLHQ 

 

The successful candidate must be able to meet the requirements of background checks and have the right to work in New Zealand.

 

Applications close: Thursday 26 February 2026