General Manager – Cape Sanctuary – Ocean Beach

Lead one of Aotearoa’s most significant mainland conservation projects

Cape Sanctuary is one of New Zealand’s largest privately owned and operated, fenced mainland wildlife restoration projects. Spanning 2,500 hectares, it is a bold, long‑term vision to restore Hawke’s Bay’s coastal and forest ecosystems while balancing conservation, farming, forestry, tourism and community access – an innovative rural model for Predator Free 2050.

Since 2006, Cape Sanctuary has achieved nationally recognised outcomes in seabird restoration, species translocations and ecosystem recovery. We have removed over 25,000 predators from the sanctuary and surrounding halo area, planted over 1 million native trees, have retired over 600ha of farmland and translocated 23 endangered species as part of restoration efforts. We are now seeking an exceptional General Manager to lead the Sanctuary into its next phase of impact.

This is an extremely rare opportunity to lead a fast paced and mission‑driven organisation where strategic leadership directly translates into measurable ecological outcomes, strong partnerships and community legacy.

The opportunity

As General Manager, you will set and deliver Cape Sanctuary’s strategic direction alongside project partners, balancing long‑term conservation aspirations with practical delivery across ecosystems, tourism and operations.

You will lead a committed team of staff, contractors and volunteers and work in close partnership with iwi/hapū, the Department of Conservation, landowners, researchers and tourism partners. Your role is to ensure Cape Sanctuary continues to set the benchmark for successful mainland conservation and continue to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in the private conservation sphere.

This is a hands‑on leadership role, suited to someone who can operate confidently across strategy, science, people and place.

What you’ll be responsible for …

Strategic leadership

• Shaping and delivering annual and five‑year strategies aligned to conservation and organisational goals
• Providing clear, practical leadership on risk, performance, investment and opportunity
• Championing innovation and continuous improvement in sanctuary practice.

Conservation and species management

• Oversight of all species recovery programmes, including translocations, breeding, monitoring and habitat restoration
• Leadership and continued development of predator and pest control programmes to maintain a high‑performing sanctuary
• Ensuring compliance with DOC permits and best‑practice ecological standards.

Partnerships and relationships

• Building enduring relationships with iwi/hapū, embedding tikanga Māori into collaboration and decision‑making
• Maintaining strong partnerships with DOC, landowners, researchers, community groups and tourism operators
• Representing Cape Sanctuary as a nationally significant conservation and visitor destination.

Tourism and education

• Growing sustainable tourism that supports conservation outcomes
• Strengthening education partnerships, including with Te Kauwae Education Trust, to expand learning opportunities.

Operations, people and funding

• Overall operational leadership, including health and safety, financial management, reporting and procurement
• Managing budgets, grants, sponsorship and funding streams
• Leading, developing and supporting a high‑performing team and a thriving volunteer community.

About you

You bring credibility, calm leadership and the ability to get things done in complex environments where values matter. You are equally comfortable setting direction and rolling up your sleeves.

You will likely bring:

• Proven leadership experience in conservation, ecology, sanctuary or complex land‑based operations
• Strong strategic planning and execution capability
• Demonstrated success in species management, predator control or ecological restoration
• Experience developing or leading tourism products aligned with conservation outcomes
• Genuine experience working with iwi/hapū and a commitment to tikanga Māori
• Excellent people leadership skills and an ability to inspire staff and volunteers
• Strong financial and operational management capability
• Clear communication, sound judgement and a resilient, solutions‑focused mindset
• Tertiary level qualifications in conservation, zoology, ecology or similar fields.

Why Cape Sanctuary?

Cape Sanctuary is ambitious, innovative and deeply purpose‑driven. You will work in one of Aotearoa’s most spectacular coastal landscapes, alongside a passionate team, contributing to a legacy of biodiversity recovery that will endure for generations.

If you are looking for a leadership role where your decisions genuinely matter — to ecosystems, communities and the future — this is that opportunity.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to office@capesanctuary.co.nz

Applications close: Thursday 28 May 2026.