Earth Sciences NZ was established on 1 July 2025 through the merger of GNS and NIWA, with the upcoming acquisition of MetService further strengthening its capabilities. Bringing together multidisciplinary expertise and advanced technology, it will excel in earth, environmental, and natural resources science across six core missions: Geological Hazards, Weather and Climate, Energy, Land and Freshwater, Atmosphere and Climate, and Oceans.

This new entity forms part of the most significant reform to New Zealand’s science and innovation system in more than three decades, designed to create a more dynamic, collaborative, and impactful science system. Following the acquisition of MetService, Earth Sciences NZ will comprise around 1,500 staff across 22 sites, with assets of approximately $400 million and annual revenues of $370 million, including substantial commercial streams. This provides a unique opportunity to shape the future of science delivery for Aotearoa New Zealand and position the organisation as a globally recognised leader in its field. For more information, visit https://www.earthsciences.nz/

The Role

Earth Sciences NZ is seeking an outcomes-focused Integration Manager to lead the delivery of a high-impact organisational integration programme. This is a senior leadership role will guide the transition of our predecessor organisations into a unified future ready organisation – ensuring alignment across people, systems, culture, and operations.

 As Integration Manager, you will manage the integration programme, coordinate cross-functional project teams, manage programme risks, measure benefit realisation and drive change management initiatives that support a smooth and successful merger. This is a rare opportunity to influence the future ways of working across a newly formed national science organisation, embedding a culture of collaboration, innovation, and performance. 

What You’ll Do

• Lead the end-to-end integration programme, including planning, execution, and reporting.

• Drive change management and stakeholder engagement to support cultural alignment and employee experience.

• Oversee operational alignment of systems, processes, and policies.

• Identify and mitigate risks, maintaining a programme-wide risk register.

• Measure benefit realisation and value delivery.

• Monitor progress against KPIs and provide regular updates to leadership.

• Support post-merger evaluation and continuous improvement.

 What You’ll Bring

• Demonstrated success in leading complex organisational transformation and post-merger integration initiatives.

• Proven experience in programme management, including planning, execution, governance, and benefits realisation across multi-stream initiatives.

• Strong capability in strategic risk management, benefit realisation, stakeholder engagement, and enterprise-wide coordination, with a proven ability to navigate ambiguity and drive alignment across functions.

• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with a track record of influencing senior leaders and fostering high-trust relationships at all levels.

• Highly effective in building and maintaining strong stakeholder partnerships, with a real understanding of organisational dynamics.

What we offer

• Varied, challenging and important work with talented colleagues in an organisation devoted to earth science.

• A high performing organisation with a focus on employee development and wellbeing.

• A 12 to 24 months fixed term, full time (40 hours per week) role at a location to be agreed.

Apply now

If this sounds like the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you. 

View the full position description for this role here - https://www.gns.cri.nz/careers/.  Please contact [email protected] with any questions or queries.

Applications close: 11.55 pm on Friday, 5 December 2025