Chief Executive Officer - Pou Whakatamore, Raukūmara Pae Maunga

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to become the inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Raukūmara Pae Maunga and lead one of the most significant ecological and cultural restoration programmes in Aotearoa. Raukūmara Pae Maunga is addressing decades of neglect and taking decisive action to restore the mauri of Raukūmara - a mountain to sea forest ecosystem on the East Coast of the North Island, a region of environmental & economic importance, cultural revitalisation and incredible community resilience. Guided by the kaupapa “Kia haumanu te mauri o te Raukūmara”, the Trust is seeking an agile, values-driven leader to achieve ecological and cultural restoration and revitalisation through strong operational delivery, partnership with iwi and communities, securing sustainable funding and alignment to the Trust’s governance strategy: The CEO will be an experienced leader who is focussed on operational excellence, and will work in a practical, hands-on way operationally, to stand the organisation up, alongside the skilled expertise already involved in the project. A leader who can communicate the vision, build systems, lead people, grow revenue streams and deliver complex restoration programmes at scale will ensure this project is a continued success. 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 management with a view to move to operational oversight in time, 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 The ability to work alongside kaimahi, developing systems and process 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 aspirations 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 aspirations 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. Closing Date: 31 July 2026 The successful candidate must be able to meet the requirements of background checks and have the right to work in New Zealand. #J-18808-Ljbffr