Aukaha (1997) Ltd

Kaiwhakahaere Mana Ahurea Mana Taiao – General Manager

About us:
We are a kaupapa Māori, not-for-profit consultancy based in Otago, working for and alongside mana whenua across environmental, cultural, and social domains.

Our role is to enable papatipu rūnaka and hapū aspirations by integrating mana whenua values into planning, development, and decision-making across our takiwā.

Aukaha operates as a trusted delivery partner, supporting mana-to-mana relationships with councils, agencies, and industry, while maintaining a strong commitment to cultural integrity and long-term intergenerational outcomes.

Aukaha is entering a new phase focused on strengthening delivery performance, improving financial sustainability, and building a scalable model for future growth.

We are owned and governed by five Kāi Tahu papatipu rūnaka:

• Te Rūnanga o Waihao
• Te Rūnanga o Moeraki
• Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki
• Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou
• Hokonui Rūnanga

The Kaiwhakahaere Mana Ahurea Mana Taiao is a senior leadership role responsible for the performance, delivery, and integrity of Aukaha’s cultural and environmental portfolios.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and forming part of the Executive Leadership Team, this role leads a diverse and complex portfolio of projects and partnerships across the takiwā, working across both contractor and internal delivery models.

This role has clear accountability for lifting delivery performance, strengthening commercial discipline, and embedding sustainable operating practices across the organisation. You will play a key role in shaping how Aukaha delivers its work, with the mandate to improve systems, performance, and outcomes.

This role operates within a clear organisational framework, with strong executive support to enable success and ongoing development.

All delivery must align with mana whenua values, tikaka, and the expectations of our shareholding rūnaka.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own delivery performance across a portfolio of programmes and contracts, ensuring work is delivered on time, within scope, and to a high standard
• Lift utilisation and delivery discipline, strengthening planning, resourcing, and contract execution
• Drive commercial performance, including pricing, margin discipline, cost recovery, and pipeline visibility
• Lead a blended workforce model, optimising the use of contractors and internal capability to maximise delivery performance
• Build and lead high-performing teams, setting clear expectations and developing capability
• Maintain trusted stakeholder relationships, representing Aukaha in strategic forums
• Strengthen operating systems and rhythms, supporting performance, risk management, and continuous improvement

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience leading complex delivery portfolios, programmes, or professional services environments
• Demonstrated commercial and financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, pricing, and cost recovery
• Experience working with contractors or multi-party delivery models
• Proven ability to lead teams through change and lift performance 
• Confidence operating in complex stakeholder environments
• Understanding of, or willingness to learn, tikaka, te reo Māori, and te ao Kāi Tahu

Aukaha is guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to bicultural practice and a high-performing workplace.

We offer a competitive salary, with scope for growth aligned to performance and organisational impact, a flexible working environment, and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful outcomes for mana whenua and our wider communities.

Please apply via our website directly: https://aukaha.co.nz/work-with-us/

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Applications close 01 May 2026 11:59pm.