Property Lead, Totara Estate/Clarks Mill - Ref 108

Fixed Term Full time – Parental Leave cover 12 months

Totara Estate and Clarks Mill are part of the national suite of historic properties managed by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and are among Waitaki district’s high profile heritage sites and popular visitor attractions. We require a heritage champion with effective business management and leadership skills to be our Property Lead for these North Otago properties for a Fixed Term Parental Leave cover starting May 4th 2026.

The Property Lead is a varied hands-on role including both site and staff management to conserve and promote these properties. Leading a small team in the daily operations will involve welcoming visitors, hosting groups, coordinating retail operations, organising events, liaising with partners and stakeholders, budget management, property maintenance and health and safety compliance.

The sites tell significant stories of industry. Five minutes from Ōamaru lies Totara Estate, birthplace of our multi-billion-dollar frozen meat industry. Ten minutes from here is Clarks Mill, a nineteenth century engineering marvel, and a survivor from times when North Otago thrived on wheat growing and flour milling. The four-storey Ōamaru stone mill building houses original machinery which has been lovingly restored.

Our ideal candidate will have proven business management experience and team leadership skills. Experience in a relevant field, such as tourism or event management, would be an advantage.

If you are looking for an opportunity to ‘make your mark’ on heritage, are an effective manager and enthusiastic about working in a visitor-focused environment, this role is for you!

Applications close at 5pm on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

The salary range for the position is $70,585- $83,041