Lead Operations Pest Animals

We're looking for an experienced and motivated operational leader with a passion for developing people and building high-performing teams to join our dedicated Pest Animals team. This permanent role is based in Masterton, with regular time spent in our Upper Hutt office (typically one to two days per week), where in-person collaboration with the wider team is important.

About the role

As Lead Operations - Pest Animals, you will provide operational leadership for Greater Wellington's pest animal programmes, protecting biodiversity, agriculture, human health and community values across the Wellington Region.

You'll lead a significant operational programme, overseeing planning, delivery and continuous improvement while ensuring resources are targeted where they will achieve the greatest impact. With responsibility for work programme delivery, contractor management and operational planning, you'll have the scope to make decisions, solve complex challenges, and directly influence conservation outcomes.

This is fundamentally a people leadership role. You'll build capability, develop leaders, shape team culture and create an environment where people feel supported, challenged and empowered to succeed. You'll lead through change, champion health, safety and wellbeing, and foster a high-performing team culture.

Working closely with mana whenua, communities, landowners and partner agencies, you'll help deliver lasting environmental outcomes for the region.

Skills and experience required

• Capability in te ao Māori in line with Greater Wellington's Māori Capability Framework.
• Proven people leadership experience, including coaching and mentoring staff, managing performance, building capability and creating positive team culture (including through change).
• Significant operational experience in pest animal management, conservation or biosecurity programmes at a comparable scale.
• At least five years' experience in a team leadership role with responsibility for operational delivery and people leadership.
• A tertiary qualification in animal ecology, biosecurity, biodiversity, or a related field, and/or at least ten years' experience in pest animal management or conservation, with strong knowledge of pest animal management and relevant legislation.
• Experience in operational and financial reporting, budgeting, planning and project delivery.
• Experience leading programmes and projects to successful completion, including embedding organisational change into business as usual.
• A practical solutions-focused approach with the ability to make sound decisions and adapt to changing priorities.
• Strong relationship management and customer focus, with the ability to work effectively with landholders, community, agencies and contractors.
• Demonstrated ability to work with mana whenua, iwi, and Māori organisations, including an understanding of Treaty responsibilities and partnership approaches.

What we offer

• Work to suit your life and whānau with our flexible working policy.
• We'll encourage you to grow and prosper with a range of learning and development opportunities, internal secondments and career progression.
• Your wellbeing is our priority - we'll provide medical and trauma insurance, support through our employee assistance programme, including Rongoā Māori partner providers, generous annual and sick leave, along with Tangihanga leave and support.
• We want you to have a sense of belonging, where you can reflect your personal and cultural identity in the way that you work.
• Social clubs, staff networks and a friendly and inclusive culture.
• Great working environments across our beautiful region.

Come help treasure and grow our rohe together

Our rohe and its lands, waterways, animals, plants and people can only grow stronger if they are nurtured.

To join our team is to step up and commit to playing an active part in this important mahi. That means restoring nature, connecting people and places, reducing environmental impacts and helping this rohe and its people prosper.

We are part of a collective movement alongside mana whenua and community members whose hopes for the future of this region are just as high as your own.

Our efforts across environmental management, public transport, flood protection, regional parks and water supply are interconnected and integral to treasuring our rohe and growing our future.

How to apply

Greater Wellington is proud to be a member of Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion. We value diversity and are committed to an inclusive, flexible, and supportive workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and welcome the unique talent and experience you will bring to our team.

We are passionate about ensuring our recruitment processes are fair and equitable. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs or adjustments that need to be made so we can offer a recruitment process that is more accessible to you.

Click on the Apply link to view the position description and to apply for the role with a cover letter and CV. All applicants will be required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in New Zealand as we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position.

For further information, please contact Glen Falconer, ***email_hidden***.

Applications close: 5.00pm, Sunday, 19 July 2026 . However, we will be shortlisting applications as they come in and will interview as soon as possible to secure the right person.

Greater Wellington is an accredited Living Wage Employer. We're committed to making sure our people, including people in our supply chain, earn enough to meet life's basic needs, support their whānau, and participate fully in their communities.

The remuneration for this position, inclusive of all benefits, is $97,325 to $145,987, with a midpoint of $121,656. Starting remuneration will depend on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

Agency applications won't be considered at this time.