Korero mo te turanga - About the role
We are recruiting up to 5 Geospatial Specialists to start together on the 29th October 2025 as a cohort for the Maritime Digital Transformation programme. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a group that will shape the future of New Zealand's maritime navigation services.
This role offers the opportunity to contribute to transforming New Zealand's maritime navigation future by modernising our maritime navigational services through implementation of International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) S-100 standards.
You will learn specialised skills to produce and maintain navigational chart portfolios, process geospatial data, and implement tight quality control processes. You will ensure New Zealand's navigational products meet current and future international requirements and help New Zealand transition to advanced digital navigational services that meet the needs of modern shipping.
What We Offer
Professional Development:
- Comprehensive 4-5-month training programme starting November 2025, recognised by the FIG/IHO/ICA International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC) which meets the S-8B Standard for Category B Nautical Cartography
- Cohort-based learning - train alongside fellow specialists, building strong professional relationships from day one
- Structured onboarding with experienced mentors
- Shared learning experiences and peer support throughout your development
Work Environment:
- Collaborative culture with opportunities to work across technical disciplines
- Balance of transformation work and operational responsibilities
- Strong peer network from your cohort experience
- Starting with your cohort in our Chart Squad during the onboarding period, with opportunities to move to other specialised teams as you develop your skills and interests.
Upon Completion of the Training Programme, You will:
- Produce and maintain navigational chart portfolios
- Process and integrate hydrographic data to international standards
- Validate and assess maritime safety information
- Create and maintain electronic and paper-based navigation products to international standards
- Support transformation while maintaining business-as-usual processes
- Apply quality control processes for data integrity and compliance
He pukenga tou - Skills & Experience you will bring:
Essential:
- Attitude and aptitude to learn and apply new skills, processes, and tasks
- Great team player, with a positive growth and problem-solving mindset
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail and commitment to quality
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Understanding of GIS principles and geospatial data processing or geospatial sciences
- Able to start work with us on 29th October 2025 and commit to the full-time office-based training programme until late April 2026
Desirable but not essential:
- Bachelor's degree in Geography, Geospatial Science, Surveying, or related field
- Knowledge of hydrography and maritime navigation
- Understanding of cartographic principles
- Interest in international maritime standards
- A basic awareness of the use of AI and scripting for automation, data validation and process improvement.
The expected appointing range for this role is between $67,000 and $75,000.
Nga mea e tukuna ana e tatau - What we offer our employees
- Interesting work which impacts Aotearoa as we care for whenua, moana and arawai.
- Health care reimbursements
- Annual Flu Vaccinations
- Reduced Health Insurance Premiums
- Diverse groups and networks
- If eligible for paid parental leave, you will be entitled to a top up payment for the first 18 weeks of the 26 weeks.
- A minimum of four weeks and three days annual leave
Te Takinatanga - Our Story
The Maritime Digital Transformation programme is an initiative lead by Toitu Te Whenua, LINZ to modernise New Zealand's maritime navigational services. As part of our commitment to building local expertise, we're investing in developing a cohort of 5 specialists who will contribute to New Zealand's maritime navigation future together.
Toitu Te Whenua plays a vital role in understanding, developing, and caring for New Zealand's whenua, moana and arawai (land, sea, and waterways). Whether you are developing our products and services to support our customers, managing the Crown estate, engaging with our iwi partners, or helping us be an effective regulator, your contribution can make a difference. Our mahi helps New Zealanders have confidence that the development of our land, communities and country is being planned from an informed and expert position that balances environmental, social, cultural, and economic considerations. Now and for future generations.
Our Kia Toipoto Intentions - Public Service Gender, Maori, Pacific, and Ethnic Pay Gap Action Plan
Toitu Te Whenua is a diverse team of individuals with different experience and perspectives. This drives our culture and high performance. We know that people from underrepresented groups and women do not apply for roles if they are not a 100% match, but we are not looking for perfection, we are looking for potential. As an inclusive and supportive employer, we value differences and want to encourage anyone interested to apply, regardless of whether you tick all the boxes or not. As an organisation we embrace diversity, encourage work life balance, and have a flexible approach to the way we work which means you will quickly feel connected and valued.
Tono mai - How to Apply
If you are eyeing up this role and believe you have got what it takes, please apply, or contact the team.
To apply, please click "Apply Online." You will be taken through to our Toitu Te Whenua Careers Centre where you will be able to review further information about the responsibilities and accountabilities of this role in the Position Description. You will be able to complete your online application form and upload a copy of your CV/Cover Letter.
Please note, while applications close Sunday 7 September 2025, we may be reviewing applications as they are received and may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.
For tracking and evaluation purposes, all applications must be submitted via our on-line process. To be eligible for this role you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand and be available to start in this role in late October, based in Wellington.
You may notice that the Position Description title for this role (Geospatial Specialist Level Tahi/One) does not match the advertised title. At Toitu Te Whenua we design our roles around shared capabilities (rather than focusing on tasks). This means our position descriptions are broad, one position description can cover many roles, this is known as Broad Based Role (BBR). Using BBR allows us to be responsive to our customers and to strengthen the connections across our organisation. It also gives us the flexibility to provide wider opportunities to our people, to further their careers.
If you have any questions about this role or working at Toitu Te Whenua, please email opportunities@linz.govt.nz and our Recruitment Team will be in touch with you.