General Manager Antarctic Operations

• Contribute to enabling internationally significant research

About the role

At Antarctica New Zealand, we aim to ensure that Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are valued, protected and understood. Our role is to support world-leading science and environmental protection and to raise public awareness of the global significance of the continent and surrounding Southern Ocean.

Based in Christchurch, the General Manager Antarctic Operations is a key contributing member of the Senior Leadership Team, accountable for the delivery of year-round presence at Scott Base, ensuring the safe and effective management of Scott Base facilities, infrastructure, and assets, and providing logistics support for Antarctic and Southern Ocean research and the Scott Base Redevelopment. A key focus is to take a structured and planned approach to how the teams operate.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading the development of an operational model, consisting of robust systems and processes;
• Overseeing the preparation and delivery of the annual Antarctic seasonal plan; with an emphasis on fostering a culture of safety and environmental stewardship;
• Generating a comprehensive operational and asset management strategy that remains responsive to the evolving needs of key stakeholders now and in the future;
• Providing effective leadership as part of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the achievement of overarching organisational goals;
• Cultivating enduring partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including New Zealand Defence Force, researcher entities and other National Antarctic Programmes;
• Overseeing the implementation of Antarctica New Zealand's Coordinated Incident Management system.

Skills & Experience

It goes without saying that candidates of interest will have a solid safety, operational, planning and logistics background, but importantly, they will also be strategic and conceptual thinkers. You will be known as a collaborative and pragmatic leader who builds excellent relationships.

You will have:

• A down to earth, calm and tactful nature, along with a passion for environmental sustainability;
• Strong operational as well as strategic leadership skills, encompassing logistics, risk management, safety leadership and preferably experience with CIMs (Coordinated Incident Management);
• An executive disposition and political acumen, with proven track record for cultivating trusted relationships with key stakeholders, including the government and boards;
• Proven experience guiding teams effectively through organisational change;
• Experience with remote operations, people and logistics - polar experience would be an added bonus but is not essential.

Some travel will be required in the summer months to Scott Base, approximately a month in the first year and two weeks for subsequent years. The successful candidate will be appointed subject to medical and vaccination requirements.

Candidates can view the Candidate Briefing document including a full Position Description and apply, in strict confidence, online at

To apply by email, please attach your cover letter and CV and send to quoting 8743aa. Applications close on 20 th May 2024. Emails will be electronically acknowledged, and further correspondence may be by email.

For more information please phone Louise Green on 3 353436