Project Director - Hauraki Gulf Reef Restoration Project

Job Description

• Auckland based.
• Senior project leadership role balancing strategy, partnership and operational delivery.
• Lead one of Aotearoa’s most ambitious marine restoration kaupapa.
• Work alongside mana whenua and key partners to restore the health and mauri of the moana.

Tīhei Mauri Ora.

E mihi ake ana ki a koutou huri noa i runga i te kaupapa e kōrerohia nei arā, ko te mahi kia tū tētahi tangata matatau hei Kaiwhakahaere o te Hōtaka Taiao kia Whakaora i te Moana o Hauraki. He mahi nui, he tūranga motuhake, nō reira kaua e kōrapa, whiua mai tō īngoa ki te pōtae, mehemea ki te whakaarohia ko koe te tangata tika. He hōtaka mahi ngātahi tēnei ki a Ngāti Manuhiri rātou ko Ngāti Pāoa, ko Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. Ka whai wāhi hoki te rōpu e kia nei ko NEXT Foundation me te Te Papa Atawhai ki ngā mahi.

Kāti, whakapiri mai me te kī atu mā te Atua tātou e arataki kia kōkiri te kaupapa nei i runga i te tika me te pono, huri noa, huri noa, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa, ka huri.

An unique opportunity to lead a flagship restoration initiative with the potential to create lasting ecological and cultural impact for Tīkapa Moana/Te Moananui ā Toi and future generations. The Hauraki Gulf Reef Restoration Project is a bold and collaborative marine restoration initiative focused on restoring the rocky reef ecosystems of one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic and treasured marine environments.

This kaupapa is a partnership between Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, alongside Te Papa Atawhai - DOC, NEXT Foundation and key project partners. Together, the kaupapa is grounded in shared stewardship of the moana and a long-term commitment to restoring ecological abundance through the integration of mātauranga Māori, contemporary science and practical restoration action.

We are seeking an experienced and highly capable Project Director to lead this kaupapa through a critical and exciting stage of delivery. This is a rare opportunity to shape and deliver work of real significance, balancing strategy, partnership and operational excellence while helping restore the health and mauri of Tīkapa Moana.

Te tūranga | The opportunity

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Project Director will lead the strategic planning and day-to-day delivery of the Hauraki Gulf Reef Restoration Project. You will work at the intersection of iwi partnership, ecological restoration and operational delivery, providing leadership across governance, field operations, stakeholder engagement, financial management and team performance.

This is a role for someone equally comfortable contributing at governance level as they are navigating the practical realities of complex marine fieldwork.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Leading the end-to-end planning and delivery of the restoration programme, ensuring milestones, performance outcomes and Board reporting requirements are met.
• Translating strategy into clear operational delivery and providing trusted advice and reporting to the Board and governance partners.
• Overseeing marine field operations, including restoration activity, diving operations, logistics, health and safety, risk management and regulatory compliance, at the same time ensuring delivery aligns with environmental and place-based tikanga obligations. 
• Managing a significant multi-million-dollar project budget, including forecasting, cashflow, financial controls, procurement and contractor performance.
• Building strong, trusted relationships with mana whenua, iwi, communities, scientific experts, funding partners and governance stakeholders.
• Supporting co-design, partnership-based decision-making and delivery that aligns with tikanga, environmental obligations and the long-term wellbeing of Tīkapa Moana.
• Build trust and enduring relationships with mana whenua and act as a visible and credible representative for the kaupapa. 
• Leading a multidisciplinary team of staff, contractors and volunteers, and fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, accountability and high performance.

Ko wai koe | About you

You will be a respected and experienced senior leader with a strong operational lens, excellent relationship capability and a genuine commitment to environmental restoration. You may come from the marine, conservation, ecological restoration, environmental infrastructure or kaupapa Māori sector, but most importantly you will bring credibility, judgement and proven project delivery capability.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Understanding of ecological restoration and the relationship between mātauranga Māori and western science in the moana space.
• Demonstrated success operating in multi-iwi environments.
• Strong confidence engaging in te reo me ōna tikanga.
• Proven leadership of complex ecological, marine or environmental restoration initiatives.
• Experience managing high-risk field-based operations.
• Strong project planning and programme delivery capability.
• Financial management experience across significant budgets.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills.
• Knowledge of environmental regulation and iwi partnership frameworks in Aotearoa.

You will also bring:

• A strategic and pragmatic leadership style.
• Calm temperament and the ability to navigate complexity.
• Strong communication and influencing capability.
• Resilience, adaptability and a hands-on approach.
• A deep commitment to creating long-term impact for people and places.

Opportunities like this are rare. This is a chance to lead meaningful restoration at scale within one of Aotearoa’s most significant marine environments, working alongside mana whenua and committed partners to create lasting ecological, cultural and community outcomes. The legacy of this kaupapa will extend well beyond the immediate project and will contribute to the restoration and long-term wellbeing of Tīkapa Moana for generations to come.

Me pēhea te tono | How to apply

Please email Heather Walker at Mana Recruitment, heather@manarecruitment.co.nz to request an information kete and any additional information. 

Application for this position will close on: Wednesday 17 June 2026 at 5.00pm.