- Lead Finance, People, Safety, Risk, Technology & Communications
- Enable our Work in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean
- Drive efficiency through our enabling services
About The Role:
At Antarctica New Zealand, our vision is for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean to be valued, protected and understood. The next few years are a legacy period for the organisation. Antarctic science is a national research priority, and Scott Base will be busier than ever while its ageing buildings are replaced. Delivering on that depends on an organisation that is well governed, financially sustainable, safe and capable.
Based in Christchurch and a key contributing member of the Senior Leadership Team, the General Manager Corporate Services leads the functions that make this possible: Finance, People and Capability, Health, Safety and Risk, Information Technology, Communications, Information and Records Management. Across the team of 17 people, you will lead the integration of these functions to be ‘fit for purpose’ and aligned to organisational priorities.
A key focus will be on driving efficiency though innovation, bringing a fresh set of eyes across the portfolio, a review of IT and the ongoing leadership of your capable team.
Other responsibilities include:
- Providing strategic advice and assurance to the Chief Executive and Board;
- Strengthening workforce capability and fostering a high-performing culture;
- Overseeing communications, reputation and engagement with domestic and international stakeholders;
- Guiding technology, digital systems and information management to improve performance and security;
- Maintaining robust governance, financial, assurance and compliance frameworks.
Skills & Experience:
You will be an experienced executive known to be a measured, collaborative, down to earth and practical leader, who is comfortable in the strategic space as well as needing to be hands-on at times. It goes without saying you will enjoy working for smaller non-hierarchical organisations, be purpose-led as well as comfortable delivering outcomes within tight resource constraints - where every dollar of public funding must work hard.
You will have:
- Strong financial, contractual, and commercial acumen, a Chartered Accountant qualification is desirable;
- Experience/understanding of government, public sector or Crown entity environments (desirable);
- Senior leadership experience in a complex organisation, leading multiple corporate services functions;
- A proven track record providing advice to Chief Executives, Boards and senior stakeholders;
- Experience leading organisational change, transformation and technology-enabled improvement;
- A strong grounding in governance, risk management and organisational assurance.
Travel to Scott Base may be required. The successful candidate may be appointed subject to medical and vaccination requirements.
Benefits:
- Opportunity to travel to Scott Base and see our work in Antarctica firsthand
- Small, values-based organisation with a clear and meaningful purpose
- Full member of the Senior Leadership Team
About the Company:
Antarctica New Zealand is the Crown entity responsible for developing, managing and executing New Zealand government activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Our strategic priorities are maintaining a continuous and effective presence in Antarctica, enhancing science outcomes and impact, strengthening Antarctic relationships to advance New Zealand’s interests, and protecting Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments.
We manage Scott Base, New Zealand’s Antarctic research station, which opened in January 1957, has been occupied year-round ever since and supports science in the Ross Sea region. The Government has set aside $498 million to redevelop the base. Guided by the Scott Base Masterplan, ageing infrastructure will be replaced in stages, beginning with the oldest facilities and the Ross Island Wind Energy system.
Our people include permanent, fixed-term and contract staff, personnel seconded from the New Zealand Defence Force, and strategic partners across government, the science community and other National Antarctic Programmes.
Culture:
Our overarching goal is to play an influential role in the kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. People are the key to our success, and we are building a high-performance organisation grounded in shared values:
- Ka ngākau whiwhita tātou ki ā tātou mahi katoa
We are passionate about what we do
- Ka tiaki tātou i a tātou anō, ka tiaki hoki i te taiao
We care for each other and the environment
- Ka mahi tahi tātou
We work together
- He ngākau pono ō tātou
We act with integrity
- Ka whai tātou i ngā taumata tiketike
We aspire to the highest standards