- Secure sports fish and game bird resources for future generations
- Strategic role with hands on leadership
- Influence positive outcomes through advocacy and engagement
- Invercargill based + access to vehicle
The Organisation
The Southland Fish & Game Council is one of 12 regional councils across New Zealand responsible for maintaining and enhancing sports fish and game bird populations and their habitats for future generations. With a strong commitment to the principles of “user pays, user says,” the organisation plays a pivotal role in protecting, managing, and enhancing New Zealand’s freshwater sports fish and game bird resources.
The Council operates with a lean, dedicated team based in Invercargill and Te Anau.
The Role
Following the resignation of the current Manager, Southland Fish & Game is seeking an experienced leader to set the strategic direction with the Council and develop and deliver an annual programme of work.
Key aspects of the role include:
- Implementing statutory functions and achieving strategic priorities.
- Ensuring the voice of licence holders is championed and the role of Fish & Game publicly advocated for, with credibility and balance.
- Developing and maintaining constructive relationships with key stakeholders, including the national Council, regional groups and clubs, landowners, Iwi and the wider community.
- Supporting a culture of collaboration within the Council, field teams, and across regional and national Fish & Game networks.
The role reports to the volunteer Council and will be central in shaping a unified and constructive approach for the region.
The Ideal Person
Your highly developed relationship management skills and ability to operate in multi-stakeholder settings will ensure you can balance statutory responsibilities and operational delivery with community and landowner expectations.
A seasoned communicator, you will know when to advocate, when to listen, and when to step back. And your focus on achieving pragmatic solutions, will ensure Southland Fish & Game is seen as a credible, constructive organisation.
In addition, you will have
- An undergraduate degree, preferably in science.
- Proven experience leading a high performing team.
- Proven operational management across financial, legal, risk, compliance, administrative and technical functions.
- An understanding of working within regulatory frameworks.
- A background that includes rural and agricultural understanding, enabling you to engage authentically with landowners and farmers.
A knowledge of environmental legislation, conservation principles, and freshwater ecosystems would be an advantage.
This is an opportunity for a credible leader to strengthen relationships, build the organisation’s reputation, and ensure Southland Fish & Game continues to serve licence holders and the wider community.