Situations Vacant

Yachting New Zealand positions available

Yachting New Zealand regional development and coaching manager

Yachting New Zealand is the national sports organisation for sailing and is dedicated to supporting and promoting the sport across the country. We are a small team with our head office based on Auckland’s North Shore.  

We are seeking a passionate and skilled person to join our Yachting New Zealand community delivery team as regional development and coaching manager. This pivotal role involves working with clubs to develop their programmes and pathways for sailors and coaches as well as fostering positive relationships with your region’s club leaders, promoting Yachting New Zealand programmes, and support clubs in engaging with their local communities.

Key responsibilities: 
In this role, you will support clubs by providing valuable feedback on their programmes and pathways, develop a comprehensive national race training framework, and educate both sailors and coaches on development opportunities. In collaboration with Yachting New Zealand’s coach development manager, you will also work to elevate regional coaching standards and offer expert advice to national junior and youth class associations.

In addition to providing coaching support and advice, we are looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about sailing and sport development to support sailing and boating clubs. As the face of Yachting New Zealand in your region, you will manage multiple relationships and responsibilities. You will need to work independently and efficiently, developing strong relationships with clubs and class associations, helping them achieve their goals and meet the needs of their members.

Requirements: 
The ideal candidate will be a qualified sailing coach with New Zealand or international qualifications and have extensive experience in coaching sailing at club, regional, and national levels. You should have the ability to manage and develop coaching systems and training programmes effectively. Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills are essential, as you will be working with a diverse range of people. The ideal candidate should be self-managing, time-efficient, and proficient in delivering professional reports and documents.

This role can be based in one of the following regions:

Auckland:

• Northern north region: Supporting clubs from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the top of the North Island.
• Northern south region: Supporting clubs south of the Auckland Harbour Bridge up to and including Tauranga.

Central region (based in a city with a reliable regional airport, ideally Wellington): 
Supporting clubs across the rest of the North Island down to and including Wellington.

Southern region (based in a city with a reliable regional airport): 
Supporting clubs across the entire South Island.

Application process: 
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, specifying which region you are based in along with your relevant skills, experience and qualifications, to finance@yachtingnz.org.nz.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, May 2 2025.

Yachting New Zealand regional development, governance and advocacy manager

Yachting New Zealand is the national sports organisation for sailing and is dedicated to supporting and promoting the sport across the country. We are a small team with our head office based on Auckland’s North Shore.  

We are seeking a passionate and skilled person to join our Yachting New Zealand community delivery team as regional development, governance and advocacy manager. This pivotal role involves advocating with and for clubs and members, providing governance advice, fostering positive relationships with your region’s club leaders, promoting Yachting New Zealand programmes, and supporting clubs in engaging with their local communities.

Key responsibilities: 
This role involves working alongside and representing the sailing and boating community, assisting clubs in their interactions with local government and regulatory bodies, providing expert advice on governance matters, and developing tools to promote best practices in club leadership.

In addition to providing advocacy and governance support and advice, we are looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about sailing and sport development to support sailing and boating clubs. As the face of Yachting New Zealand in your region, you will manage multiple relationships and responsibilities. You will need to work independently and efficiently, developing strong relationships with clubs and helping them achieve their goals and meet the needs of their members.

Requirements: 
The ideal candidate have extensive experience in governance, business, or organisational leadership, along with knowledge of local government, insurance, and policy documentation. You will possess strong management capabilities, excellent communication skills, and the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders. A passion for sailing and boating is important. The ideal candidate should be self-managing, time-efficient, and proficient in delivering professional reports and documents.

This role can be based in one of the following regions:

Auckland:

• Northern north region: Supporting clubs from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the top of the North Island.
• Northern south region: Supporting clubs south of the Auckland Harbour Bridge up to and including Tauranga.

Central region (based in a city with a reliable regional airport, ideally Wellington): 
Supporting clubs across the rest of the North Island down to and including Wellington.

Southern region (based in a city with a reliable regional airport): 
Supporting clubs across the entire South Island.

Application process: 
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, specifying which region you are based in along with your relevant skills, experience and qualifications, to finance@yachtingnz.org.nz.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, May 2 2025.

Yachting New Zealand regional development, safety and compliance manager

Yachting New Zealand is the national sports organisation for sailing and is dedicated to supporting and promoting the sport across New Zealand. We are a small team with our head office based on Auckland’s North Shore.  

We are seeking a passionate and skilled person to join our Yachting New Zealand community delivery team as regional development, safety and compliance manager. This pivotal role involves overseeing safety and compliance across all facets of the sport, fostering positive relationships with your region’s club leaders, promoting Yachting New Zealand programmes, and supporting clubs in engaging with their local communities.

Key responsibilities: 
In this role, you will provide safety and technical guidance to clubs, boat owners, and yacht inspectors. You will manage the Yachting New Zealand safety regulations, category 1-3 safety inspection system, oversee the Yachting New Zealand club safety boat management system, and develop safety boat skipper training systems and create community safety tools.  

In addition to providing safety, compliance, and technical advice, we are looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about sailing and sport development to support sailing and boating clubs. As the face of Yachting New Zealand in your region, you will manage multiple relationships and responsibilities. You will need to work independently and efficiently, developing strong relationships with clubs and helping them achieve their goals and meet the needs of their members.

Requirements: 
The ideal candidate will have a passion for and extensive experience of sailing, including keelboat coastal and offshore racing, cruising and small craft sailing. A strong knowledge of safety regulations and compliance within the sport is crucial. The ability to manage and develop safety systems and training programmes is also required. Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills are necessary as you will be working with a diverse range of people. The ideal candidate should be self-managing, time-efficient, and proficient in delivering professional reports and documents.

This role can be based in one of the following regions:

Auckland:

• Northern north region: Supporting clubs from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the top of the North Island.
• Northern south region: Supporting clubs south of the Auckland Harbour Bridge up to and including Tauranga.

Central region (based in a city with a reliable regional airport, ideally Wellington): 
Supporting clubs across the rest of the North Island down to and including Wellington.

Southern region (based in a city with a reliable regional airport): 
Supporting clubs across the entire South Island.

Application process: 
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, specifying which region you are based in along with your relevant skills, experience and qualifications, to finance@yachtingnz.org.nz.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, May 2 2025.

Yachting New Zealand regional development, sustainability and inclusion manager

Yachting New Zealand is the national sports organisation for sailing and is dedicated to supporting and promoting the sport across the country. We are a small team with our head office based on Auckland’s North Shore.  

We are seeking a passionate and skilled person to join our Yachting New Zealand community delivery team as regional development, sustainability and inclusion manager.  

Key responsibilities: 
In this role you will lead the cultural integration of the RŪNĀ programme, support clubs in building strong local relationships with iwi and hapu, develop and monitor strategies for equity, diversity, and inclusion, promote related initiatives within the sailing community, and lead with an understanding of New Zealand’s biculturalism, Te Tiriti o Waitangi. You will also implement environmental programmes in line with Yachting New Zealand’s environmental strategic objectives, including the Clean Club programme.

In addition to providing sustainability and inclusion support and advice, we are looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about sailing and sport development to support sailing and boating clubs. As the face of Yachting New Zealand in your region, you will manage multiple relationships and responsibilities. You will need to work independently and efficiently, developing strong relationships with clubs and helping them achieve their goals and meet the needs of their members.

Requirements: 
The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of New Zealand’s biculturalism, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and cultural diversity, with proven experience in implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in sports or volunteer organisations.

You will possess excellent relationship management and communication skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and trust when building relationships with stakeholders. A passion for sailing and boating is important. The ideal candidate should be self-managing, time-efficient, and proficient in delivering professional reports and documents.

This role can be based in one of the following regions:

Auckland:

• Northern north region: Supporting clubs from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the top of the North Island.
• Northern south region: Supporting clubs south of the Auckland Harbour Bridge up to and including Tauranga.

Central region (based in a city with a reliable regional airport, ideally Wellington): 
Supporting clubs across the rest of the North Island down to and including Wellington.

Southern region (based in a city with a reliable regional airport): 
Supporting clubs across the entire South Island.

Application process: 
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, specifying which region you are based in along with your relevant skills, experience and qualifications, to finance@yachtingnz.org.nz.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, May 2 2025.

Yachting New Zealand chief executive officer

• Lead sailing in Aotearoa New Zealand, through transformation and innovation
• Take the helm at one of the country’s most iconic sporting organisations
   

Lead Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) into its next chapter of growth and transformation. After 14 years of dedicated leadership, YNZ’s CEO is stepping aside, creating a pivotal opportunity for a new appointee to shape the future of sailing and boating in Aotearoa. This leadership transition coincides with the start of new Olympic cycles as YNZ prepares for LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032. The role offers a visionary leader the chance to make their mark on both community sailing and high-performance excellence.

About Yachting New Zealand

Yachting New Zealand is the national governing body for sailing, representing over 100 clubs and 40 class associations. Recognised by World Sailing, Sport NZ, High Performance Sport NZ, Maritime New Zealand and the NZ Olympic Committee, it supports both community sailing and competitive excellence.

YNZ’s purpose: to grow sailing and inspire New Zealanders through its sport. Based in Auckland with 20 staff, it operates nationwide to develop participation, community engagement and high-performance programmes.

The role

As CEO, you will provide strategic leadership during a significant period of organisational transformation. You will implement Project Arotake recommendations, manage diverse stakeholders from grassroots to elite competitors and develop sustainable funding strategies. The role requires balancing high-performance with community sailing, expanding female participation and representing YNZ nationally and internationally. You will oversee national sailing centre development plans while supporting athlete voice in governance as part of a highly consultative leadership model.

Key attributes and experience

We seek a dynamic, values-driven leader who can demonstrate a highly impactful skillset including:

• Executive leadership in sport or not-for-profit sectors 
• Stakeholder relationship management 
• Financial acumen and revenue diversification 
• Strategic vision and change management 
• Commercial insight for funding opportunities 
• Understanding of NZ sporting pathways 
• Yachting New Zealand is committed to diversity and inclusion across all aspects of its organisation.

To apply in strict confidence now, click here or email your cover letter and CV to cvakl@sheffield.co.nz, quoting 8877sk. 

Applications close on 28 April 2025. Emails will be electronically acknowledged and further correspondence may be by email.

To view the Candidate Briefing document, please click here.

For more information, please phone Ian Taylor +64 (27) 487 7424 or Tash Wilson on +64 (21) 448 648.