Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) is on a mission to transform Aotearoa/New Zealand’s wild places by removing pest animals, building on our established reputation of achieving predator free landscapes. 

As we expand predator elimination across larger landscapes, our data needs continue to expand too, requiring high integrity, scalable and efficient systems to maintain our agile, adaptive management approach. To achieve and maintain predator elimination, we rely on the deployment of aerial and ground-based tools, supported by accurate spatial information that is regularly updated with the latest field inputs. The GIS team plays a pivotal role in ensuring all operations activities are grounded in high-quality spatial data and supported by robust GIS systems. 

 
Te Tūranga/The Position

In this role you will lead a small, but growing, team of analysts, and provide leadership across GIS functions, to maintain excellence in spatial support across all ZIP project areas. You will work closely with the IT manager, scientists, and the wider ZIP team to align GIS delivery with broader programme goals, anticipate emerging needs, and ensure timely, impactful spatial insights that inform and align with ZIP’s strategic direction. 

This position is primarily office-based, but travel will be required to connect with the GIS and wider ZIP teams and to support aerial operations in any of our project locations. There will also be opportunities to spend time at our field sites to stay connected to the work on the ground and the people delivering it. Comfort with a dynamic, flexible working environment is essential.  

 

 Ngā Mahi me Ngā Kawenga/Tasks & Responsibilities

  • Foster a positive, caring, and empowered team culture, maintaining a strong connection to field operations to ensure GIS work reflects practical realities. 

  • Provide day-to-day leadership, mentoring, and guidance to the GIS and Data Analyst team, supporting their development and managing work prioritisation across competing demands, ensuring team members have clarity, tools, and resources to deliver high-quality spatial outputs. 

  • Lead and support the design of aerial elimination and response operations, ensuring designs are precise, and grounded in reliable spatial data. 

  • Working closely with relevant ZIP team members and operational contractors to ensure designs incorporate required considerations and constraints (e.g. permission conditions, stakeholder restrictions and safety requirements). 

  • Participate in on-the-day aerial operations support, analysing real-time operational data to support aerial leads decision making, and adapting design elements as required. 

  • Help shape the direction of the GIS function so that spatial work aligns with ZIP’s broader programme goals. 

  • Provide oversight and methodological guidance for spatial analysis to ensure results are consistent, accurate, and operationally meaningful.  

  • Support the wider ZIP team by contributing skills and expertise where needed. 

 

Ngā Pūkenga me te Wheako/Skills and Experience

  • Tertiary level qualification and at least 5 years’ experience working in GIS or a related field with strong applied understanding of spatial data and systems. 

  • Demonstrated experience providing leadership, guidance, or technical support within a GIS, data, or similarly technical team, particularly with a remote team. 

  • Strong communication skills, able to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences, and to build and maintain effective relationships across a diverse and dispersed organisation. 

  • Broad technical literacy across GIS tools and data platforms, including QGIS, QField, Python, SQL, cloud-based systems, and web mapping technologies, with the ability to advance the use of these platforms within ZIP.  

 

Mō Mātou/About ZIP

A not-for-profit organisation that celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025, ZIP has grown from an ambitious start-up established by the NEXT Foundation and the Department of Conservation to a credible, highly capable independent company of 100 passionate practitioners, scientists, engineers and enablers. 

Our current mahi is focused in the rainforests of South Westland, the drylands of Aoraki/Mount Cook, on Rakiura/Stewart Island and assisting in the urban environment of Predator Free Wellington.

For more information on our achievements to date, visit zip.org.nz. 

 

Te ahurea o te Tima/The Team Culture

People – our team, conservation partners and other stakeholders – are always our number one priority, without exception. We are caring, connected, empowered and innovative. 

 ZIPs team culture is about prioritising wellbeing, health and safety, and building strong internal connections. We value open communication, shared ownership, and supporting each other to meet challenges and achieve our conservation mission. 

 

How to Apply

Applications close:        4 Weeks

Apply:                                 Via Seek

Reference:                         GIS Lead

Salary band:                      $95,000 - $110,000

 

We will be accepting applications until close of business on Friday 16th January 2025 or until a suitable candidate has been found.

For more information or to request a full job description please email careers@zip.org.nz, providing your name and a contact phone number.