[Hiring] Senior Permissions Advisor @Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai

Role Description

Most activities on public conservation land, or in relation to protected wildlife, marine mammals, or marine reserves, require approval from the Department. Our Permissions team members, located in Service Centres in Hamilton, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Hokitika, process these applications. We help to ensure that activities occurring on public conservation land are undertaken in a manner that protects the values of the land and complies with the legislation.

As a Senior Permissions Advisor your role will be focused on:

• Supporting the application process and providing technical support to your peers relating to the management of submitted applications.
• Holding pre-application discussions.
• Critical assessment and analysis of complex applications culminating in quality written reports for a final decision.
• Being directly involved in contributing to improving aspects of how we work, collaborating with others in an inclusive team process environment to ensure professional and high-quality outputs.
• Building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of people, stakeholder groups, and industries, and providing professional advice and support to internal and external customers.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated strong analytical skills and able to transfer analysis into a professional quality report.
• A confident and able communicator who builds trust with others.
• Strong understanding of statutory work and the legislation the Department operates within.
• Knowledge of conservation regulation and legislative frameworks.
• Experience in project management, particularly in leading process improvements.
• Competent in mentoring and coaching.
• Able to manage having a number of tasks on the go and apply work planning and organising tools to make the best use of your time.
• Solution focused.
• Good understanding of planning/legislative processes.

Requirements

• Experience in planning or regulatory work is advantageous.
• A tertiary qualification in environmental sciences, environmental protection, or related field.

Benefits

• DOC is committed to a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow.
• We’re driven by our values and behaviours, and are working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive by default.

Salary

$80,695–$101,951, depending on skills and experience.

Eligibility

You must hold a valid New Zealand work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Applications Close

At 11:59 pm on Sunday, 18 October 2026. This advert may close early so please apply promptly.

For Further Enquiries

Please contact Anna Basova, Recruitment Advisor, at [email protected].