Capability Development Manager (Treaty and Māori)

• Are you a strategic people leader with deep expertise in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, cultural capability development, and Crown–Māori relationships?

• Salary range between $125,600 - $162,525 depending on skills and experience.

• Permanent role, Hamilton location .

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa

Mō te tūranga | About the role

We have a new DOC Treaty Operating Model that will strengthen how we work with Treaty partners and bring greater clarity to expectations, roles, and accountability across the organisation. This makes it an exciting time to join our Iwi Strategy and Group Partnerships.

We’re looking for a Capability Development Manager (Treaty and Māori) to lead a significant programme of organisational capability uplift that strengthens understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and embeds te ao Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori across our organisation. This is a unique opportunity to influence organisational culture, lead a high-performing team, and help shape how Te Papa Atawhai delivers on its Treaty responsibilities and relationships.

Y ou will lead the design and delivery of organisation-wide capability frameworks, learning programmes, tools and resources that enable staff at all levels to work respectfully, confidently and effectively with Māori.

You will;

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Principal Advisors, Senior Advisors and Advisors, fostering a culturally grounded, inclusive and high-performing team culture.

• Set team priorities, allocate resources and ensure the delivery of high-quality outcomes while supporting professional development and continuous learning.

• Lead the development and implementation of DOC’s Māori and Treaty capability framework, ensuring it aligns with organisational priorities and statutory obligations.

• Design and deliver learning pathways, tools, guidance and training programmes that build Treaty literacy, cultural competence and confidence in engaging with Māori.

• Ensure all capability initiatives are grounded in te ao Māori

• Provide strategic advice to senior leaders, identify emerging capability needs, and partner across the organisation to embed capability development into systems and processes.

• Build and maintain trusted internal and external relationships to strengthen collective capability and share best practice.

• Lead programme planning, governance reporting and evaluation, using evidence, feedback and emerging practice to continuously improve programme effectiveness and impact.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

You are an influential and collaborative leader who combines cultural expertise with strategic thinking and a passion for developing others.

You will bring:

• Deep knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Crown–Māori relationships and Treaty settlement frameworks.

• Significant experience in cultural capability development, and organisational development

• Strong understanding of te ao Māori, mātauranga Māori and tikanga Māori, and the ability to embed these authentically within organisational practice.

• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills .

• Proven experience designing, implementing and evaluating organisation-wide capability programmes.

• Understanding of public sector environments and operating contexts.

• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience.

He aha ngā pāinga mōu ? | What’s in it for you?

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.

Want to know more?

Tonoa inaiānei | Apply now

Apply online with your CV and cover letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, let us know and we will try to accommodate.

Salary: Salary range between $125,600 - $162,525 depending on skills and experience.

Eligibility: You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Rā whakakapi |

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Friday, 31 July 2026.

Me he pātai anō , whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Renee Smith-Apanui , Kaihautū Capability Monitoring and Assurance at Sign in to view email .