Science Team Leader - Environmental Science South

Overview

Science Team Leader - Environmental Science South

At AgResearch Group – Bioeconomy Science Institute, our purpose is to harness science to enhance the value, productivity, and profitability of New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food, and agri-technology value chains. Through this, we contribute to sustainable economic growth while delivering positive environmental and social outcomes for Aotearoa. We are equally committed to mātauranga Māori and Western science, recognising the strength that comes from bringing both knowledge systems together to support innovation in farming practices and food production.

Responsibilities

We are seeking an accomplished Science Team Leader to guide our Environment Science South team – a well-established group with a strong reputation for quality science, proven impact, and significant revenue generation.

In this leadership role, you’ll ensure your team has the people, skills, and resources to thrive. You’ll provide strategic direction, oversee delivery of innovative science projects, and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence. You’ll also play a key role in capability planning, workforce development, and engagement with external partners – building on the team’s success and positioning it for the future.

This role offers flexibility to be based at either our Tuhiraki (Lincoln) or Invermay (Mosgiel) campuses.

You will lead and support a diverse scientific workforce of around 15 people across three sites, oversee project delivery, stepping in where challenges arise and ensuring resources are well allocated and coach, develop, and inspire your people to achieve career aspirations and deliver high-quality results.

You will manage budgets and utilisation, balancing research excellence with financial sustainability, and drive capability planning and workforce development to meet future needs, ensuring that our people\'s health, safety and wellbeing is paramount, supporting a culture where people thrive.

Qualifications

• A PhD in environmental science (or equivalent professional achievement).
• Proven success in leading and growing people, with a passion for building high-performing teams.
• Strong capability in managing multi-site teams and complex projects.
• The ability to balance scientific excellence with operational and financial discipline.
• Excellent relationship-building skills across internal and external stakeholders.
• An understanding of, or willingness to develop, capability in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori, and / or te reo Māori.

Benefits

AgResearch Group - New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Ltd provide a diverse range of benefits including extensive flexible working options that help employees balance their own lifestyle and needs with their work commitments. You can view the full list here :

How to apply

This role will suit a passionate, hard-working, and collaborative person who is motivated to drive their career forward within this vital New Zealand organisation. If this sounds like you, apply today using the link, including a cover letter detailing why you feel you would be suitable for this position.

To view the full position description for this role click here.

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