• NZ Tourism Awards Employer of Choice finalist and Best Luxury Hot Spring 2023
• Love the outdoors? Live the lifestyle dream in Hanmer Springs
• New Zealand’s only natural geothermal alpine spa village
• Competitive Remuneration Package

About The Role: 

With the long serving General Manager retiring, this is a rare opportunity to lead this highly respected and substantial tourism business on the next part of its journey. Reporting to the Chair of the Management Committee and the CEO of the Hurunui District Council, and based in Hanmer Springs, this delivery focussed role will lead the high performing and close-knit team to continue to achieve excellence in operational delivery and providing exceptional customer experience.

You will also be responsible for:

• Risk Management - ensuring the thermal water resource is managed in a sustainable manner; environmental consents are compliant; and providing robust financial management;
• Leading the day to day activities, as well as bringing a focus on innovation;
• Developing effective working relationship with key stakeholders - including the Chair, Mayor, CEO, Management Committee, Councillors, Community Board, Business Association, local businesses, tourism operators and industry groups;
• Continuing the strong focus on Health & Safety & Wellbeing;
• Achieving the key objective to be “Australasia’s Premier Thermal Pool and Spa Complex”.

This represents an excellent opportunity to bring a fresh set of eyes, adding value to this popular tourist destination, and achieve the vision ‘to be the most loved and memorable group of experiences in New Zealand’.  

Skills & Experience: 

This is a complex business that is operated as a commercial standalone company with the owner expecting a dividend, so candidates of interest will point to a successful general management or operations management background. You will be an experienced people leader, trusted and collegial and will:

• Be commercially astute with excellent business acumen, ideally experienced in the tourism sector;
• Be engaging and influencing, a natural relationship builder, embracing the diverse stakeholder relationships required for success in the local community;
• Have exceptional communication skills, ideally with experience in community engagement and consultation processes;
• Have an understanding of local regulatory frameworks and environmental considerations;
• Have the passion and ability to continually raise the bar in relation to customer experience and reputation;
• Have a good track record of project management oversight and safety performance.

This is a great opportunity for you to become a player on the national tourism stage, taking your career to the next level and leading a team that is dedicated to creating outstanding experiences for customers. 

About the Company:

Owned by the Hurunui District Council and located in the picturesque village of Hanmer Springs just 90 minutes north of Christchurch, the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa has been operating commercially since 1970.  The thermal waters date back thousands of years, and the first building was a changing shed built on this site in 1871 . The facilities include a range of 22 outdoor thermal pools including new cascades, relaxing rock pools, soothing sulphur pools, an array of water jets and bubbles – at a range of temperatures.  It also has a luxurious day spa with a range of treatments, private pools, sauna and steam rooms.  It is a great day out for the family with New Zealand’s largest aquatic thrill ride, Conical Thrill, an activity pool, lap pool, lazy river, water slides, and garden picnic areas.

Staff Benefits:

• Free entry to pools, sauna and steam for staff and family

• Annual Flu Vaccinations for all staff

• Footwear allowance $200 per year

• Two yearly eye checks (department specific)

• Hepatitis B Vaccinations (department specific)

• Free Gym Membership with the local community gym.

• Discount for learn to swim fee

• Discounted fuel – Mobil

• Discounts at other departments throughout the complex

• Industry tourism attractions – discounted for staff

• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)

• Personal Counselling Service – free counselling on site

• My Everyday Wellbeing – free wellbeing platform for you and your family

Our Values

Manaakitanga – Looking after people

We respect and take good care of our people, our visitors, our community and the partners we work with. We take personal responsibility for the safety and protection of our visitors and each other

Rangatiratanga – Leadership

We will strive to maintain a high degree of personal integrity and ethical behaviour in all our actions and decisions we undertake.

Kaitiakitanga – Stewardship

We will work actively to protect the people, environment, knowledge and resources.

Whanaungatanga – Family

We treat our people, our community and our visitors as family.