Job Description

Pou Ārahi | Te Ao Māori Lead (0.6 FTE)

• Senior Leadership Role
• Drive Strategic Māori Outcomes
• Sector and Community Engagement

Kei te rapu mātou i tētahi rangatira hei ārahi i a BRANZ ki te whakatinana i te ao Māori, ki te whakapakari ō mātou hononga ki ngā iwi me te whakatairanga i ngā tikanga Māori puta noa i te rāngai hanga whare. Nau mai, haere mai ki BRANZ.

This is a unique leadership opportunity at BRANZ. Play a guiding role in our journey to embed te ao Māori values, systems, and relationships across our organisation, and help us deliver impactful, inclusive science and research for Aotearoa.

Mō mātou | About Us

BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand) is a team of scientists, engineers, and professionals committed to supporting better buildings for Aotearoa. Our research and testing facilities in Porirua simulate fire, earthquakes, and extreme weather, helping keep New Zealanders safe for generations. We also provide independent, evidence-based testing and quality assurance services.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the Role

The Pou Ārahi reports to the Director, Office of the Chief Executive and drives the implementation of BRANZ’s te ao Māori strategy, Te Tāhuhu o te Whare. This role provides leadership to embed te ao Māori values in partnerships, policies, commercial work, and research. You’ll align kaupapa Māori research with organisational goals and ensure these approaches are authentically integrated throughout BRANZ.

The position is situated on a state-of-the-art campus in beautiful rural surroundings in Judgeford, Porirua, only a 30-minute drive from Wellington city and 5 minutes from the Transmission Gully Pāuatahanui interchange. The BRANZ offices include a café and there’s free EV charging stations and parking right at the door.

The role involves 20-24 hours of work per week (flexible to suit the candidate).

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the implementation and evolution of BRANZ’s te ao Māori strategy.
• Delivering capability programmes to support understanding of te ao Māori, tikanga, and reo pathways.
• Building and maintaining strong, reciprocal relationships with iwi, Māori communities, and Māori organisations.
• Advising on research investment and policy from a te ao Māori perspective.
• Developing frameworks for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on Māori outcomes.
• Supporting organisational planning, compliance, and collaboration.

Mōu | About You

We are seeking a strategic leader with hands-on experience embedding te ao Māori in mid-sized organisations. You will have transformational and authentic leadership qualities, proven ability to drive cultural capability uptake, and inspire others on a te ao Māori journey.

To be successful in this role, you will offer:

• Leadership and/or strategic experience in research, government, or industry sectors.
• Experience leading cultural change.
• Strong understanding of te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori.
• Experience working with iwi, Māori organisations, and Māori communities.
• Proven success in stakeholder engagement, including with Boards.
• Experience in science, building, housing, or environmental sectors (desirable).

It would also be helpful to have competency in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and to have existing relationships with, or connection to, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and/or Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, or proven ability to build strong relationships with iwi.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

For a confidential kōrero about this opportunity, contact Jane Temel at Niche Recruitment.

Jane Temel
Kaiwhakahaere | Director
Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
P +64 21 499 902 | E jane.temel@nicherecruitment.co.nz

To apply, please submit your cover letter and CV via the ‘apply now’ button by the closing date of Friday, 26 September 2025.

BRANZ is committed to an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment. We encourage all qualified persons who share our values and want to contribute to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace to apply.