Forestry Manager | Northland

Job Description

Forestry Manager

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Northland

Salary Range: General Salary Range D: $100,934 to $135,076 depending on skills and experience

About the Role  - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

As the Forestry Manager for our Northland region, you'll provide management support to the National Operations Manager in line with Crown Forestry's business objectives. There will be a focus on working collaboratively with the forest management contractors to plan, budget, and control forest development, tending, maintenance, and harvesting operations.

We currently utilise two forest management contractors to service our Northland portfolio, which comprises 21 forests covering over 13,200 hectares. This opportunity will see you supporting our Northland assets group and from time to time, other regions as resource is needed elsewhere.

This role will be a mixture between the office and being in the field, and travel outside the region will be required at times.

A typical day will see you:

• Implement and maintain forestry operations systems and processes.
• Monitor and report on physical and financial performance and reviewing contractor/sub-contractor performance.
• Act as the Crown's steward in respect of the maintenance and improvement of forest assets.
• Implement and maintain audit processes for forestry operations as set out in Crown Forestry's Quality Management System.
• Ensure environmental legislative compliance as required under NES-Commercial Forestry, Resource Management Act, and relevant local authority district and regional plans
• Ensure health and safety legislative compliance in accordance with the Crown Forestry H&S plan.
• Develop and maintain forest management plans in line with Crown Forestry guidelines.
• Work with existing management contractors under the Crown Forestry's operating model.
• Assist in the selection and induction of new management contractors to operate under the Crown Forestry's model.
• Build and sustain positive working relationships with stakeholders (lessors, grantors, neighbours, iwi, territorial local authorities, regional councils, and forest user groups) as appropriate to discuss and report on issues arising from forestry operations.
• Monitor and audit on-forest operations (access, land preparation, planting, releasing, tending, pest control, forest health, earthworks and harvesting).

About You - Mōu 

We need someone with experience in managing forest operations, specifically pre-plant, establishment, and tending. Experience in managing earthworks and harvesting operations is also desirable.

You will have a record of achieving strong results through the relationships you build and possess an open and honest communication style. You will be dedicated to meeting the expectations of your stakeholders and work to gain their trust and respect. Proactive management of your work and a reliable, steadfast nature will also be key to your success.

You will have the ability to be a team player and work independently. You can negotiate and influence an outcome; and have advanced written and oral communication skills with a willingness to learn and share knowledge.

In addition to the above, we are seeking someone with:

• Familiarity with the legislative/regulatory environment for the forestry sector (specifically health & safety and the environment).
• A tertiary qualification in forestry management or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience in managing forest and harvesting operations in an outsourced environment including supplier appraisal, negotiation, performance, and delivery.
• Financial management capability including budgets and controls.
• An ability to analyse issues, evaluate options and agree on a solution.

You must have a current full New Zealand driver licence (not temporary, learner, or provisional) or equivalent full foreign driver licence, and any endorsements required for the type of driving you'll be doing.

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

Crown Forestry is a commercial trading organisation managing the Crown's existing commercial forestry assets. We also enter into new commercial arrangements to develop plantation forests as directed by government policy.

Our role is to prudently manage and administer this portfolio of forestry assets to achieve the best return for the Government while ensuring the Crown's legal and contractual obligations are met. Nationally, we manage over 50 different forest assets working with multiple forest management contractors.

We are a team of 11, geographically dispersed (Masterton, Northland, Wellington, and Rotorua), but joined by our passion for the industry and a goal of becoming industry leaders. Our field operations staff regularly work remotely from one another but often closely with forest management contractors.

People enjoy working in our team for its united and connected culture and the variable and dynamic nature of our work.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Annual Wellness payment
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation

Security checks - Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru

Low level Security Clearance

• most preferably a NZ citizen, who has resided continuously in NZ for at least the last five (5) years, OR
• is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last five (5) years: either Australia, Canada, NZ, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.
• click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.

If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred applicant/s for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site, here.

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake? -
We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY” or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Thursday 31^st  July

If you have any questions about the role, please email george.mitrakas@mpi.govt.nz 

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