PROJECT MANAGER (Branching Out)
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POSITION DESCRIPTION
PROJECT MANAGER (Branching Out)
Accountable to: General Manager – Regional Strategy and Sectors
Location: New Plymouth, Taranaki
Date: April 2021
1. The Organisation
Venture Taranaki Trust (VT, or the Trust) is Taranaki’s regional development and promotion
agency, encompassing a wide range of activities spanning local and regional economic
development and strategy, enterprise innovation and growth, regional promotion and marketing,
sector development, and major event attraction. The Trust is a Council Controlled Organisation of
the New Plymouth District Council, is governed by an independent Board of Trustees, and guided
by the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The long-term impact that we are working towards is a Taranaki economy that helps enable
the well-being of our people and environment, underpinned by resilient enterprises,
economies and communities. We do this by:
• Promoting Taranaki as a great place to learn, live, work, play, visit and create
• Providing enterprise support and enablement
• Undertaking research and thought leadership
• Promoting investment in Taranaki.
Our work is also guided by Make Way for Taranaki Tapuae Roa, Taranaki’s regional economic
development strategy, and by the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap for transitioning to a low emissions
economy.
Working for us
Venture Taranaki is a small, high-performing team widely acknowledged as making a
significant difference to the Taranaki region through what we do and how we do it. We
encourage ongoing innovation and improvement and have a strong focus on staff engagement
and workplace culture. The services and projects we deliver are varied and interesting and we
endeavour to expose our team to a range of engaging and challenging work. Venture Taranaki
is here to serve Taranaki and working with the Trust will allow you to make a meaningful
contribution to the community on a daily basis.
2. The Role
The Project Manager role is responsible for leading, coordinating and reporting and ensuring
the successful achievement of deliverables pertaining the Taranaki ‘Branching Out; Food and
Fibre Value Chain Project.
Venture Taranaki Trust
Position Description: Project Manager
April 2021 | Page 1Branching Out: Diversifying and Adding to Taranaki’s Food and Fibre Value Chains
The ‘Branching Out’ project is an initiative relating to Taranaki’s regional development
strategies: Tapuae Roa and the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap, and centres on the identification,
packaging and activation of opportunities which could extend Taranaki’s food growing,
manufacturing, marketing and exporting sector, and help to foster a more sustainable and
diverse food and fibre value chain within the region.
Venture Taranaki, is the lead agency for the project, however key partners and investors
include the New Plymouth District Council, Stratford District Council, South Taranaki District
Council, Ministry of Primary Industries, Massey University, the Crown Research Institutes,
industry, land owners/farmers/growers, and Māori enterprises and food and fibre related
agencies.
A Steering Group, to oversee and champion the project, has been established along with an
Experts Group.
During the 24-month project timeline, the Project Manager will lead the process of engaging
with Taranaki landowners, farmers , food manufacturers, marketers, investors, CRIs (and other
expertise) to identify 10-12 high-potential ventures, and create venture ‘blueprints’ as
information sources for early movers and investors keen to extend Taranaki’s land use and
food and fibre value chain, ideally securing real outcomes within the project timeline.
This role is a fixed term contract, on the basis that the position concludes upon completion of
the project at the end of the two-year period – January 2022.
Team: Regional Strategy and Sectors
Reports to: General Manager – Regional Strategy and Sectors
Direct reports: None
Indirect reports: None
Within the annual budgets approved by the Board for area of
Operating Budget:
responsibility
No delegation for capital expenditure, intangible assets, lease
Delegated authority: obligations, motor vehicle obligations and non-budgeted
expenditure
• VT Regional Strategy and Sectors Team
• VT Leadership Team
Stakeholders – internal:
• VT Board of Trustees
• VT employees
• Branching Out Project Steering Group
• Branching Out Project Experts Group
Stakeholders –
• Ministry for Primary Industries
external:
• Taranaki farmers and land owners, Food processors and
marketers, potential investors, enterprises, and
Venture Taranaki Trust
Position Description: Project Manager
April 2021 | Page 2organisations associated with the food and fibre industry
and value chain, specialists and experts.
• Taranaki Territorial Local Authorities (TLAs) – New
Plymouth District Council, South Taranaki District Council,
Stratford District Council and Taranaki Regional Council
• Iwi of Taranaki and Maori enterprises
• Taranaki community
• Other government departments e.g. MBIE
3. Responsibilities
The Project Manager will work closely with the Strategy and Sectors, Destination, and
Enterprise teams of Venture Taranaki, and the Steering and Experts Group, to ensure the
Branching Out project is delivered effectively, achieving agreed milestones and outcomes,
within time and budget.
Specifically, the role will:
• Ensure the project launch, build engagement, momentum, and ensure the instigation of
performance and project tracking and reporting.
• Develop and implement a detailed project plan comprising project objectives, activities,
timelines and resourcing to meet the project and contractual requirements.
• Provide monitoring and management of project progress against the plan, to ensure
achievement of milestones and deliverables, in accordance with the agreed project plan
• Establish effective communication channels with the Steering and Experts Group,
leveraging their support and engagement in the project.
• Work closely with landowners, farmers, industry, value chain enterprises, specialists,
Universities, CRI’s, government officials and investors to ensure project success.
• Coordinate research, collation and assessment of information to identify the long list of
food and fibre options for Taranaki, criteria for benchmarking, weighing of options,
selection of short list prospects, and blueprint development. This will include contracting
of expertise as appropriate, liaison with specialists, University students and others.
• Liaise with landowners, potential investors, food and fibre value chain enterprises, on
opportunity identification and blueprint interests which could lead to their development
or trialling.
• Report on project budget progress and provide forecasts and reports as required
• Work with key MPI contacts, providing reporting updates, maintaining confidence in the
project deliverables and timeline, and responding to, or escalating queries, as appropriate
• Develop and implement an effective communication strategy to underpin the project.
• Proactively manage stakeholder and external communications
• Undertake other responsibilities and duties as assigned and agreed with the GM – Strategy
and Sectors
4. Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours
Venture Taranaki Trust
Position Description: Project Manager
April 2021 | Page 3VT’s core competencies below, outline the skills, knowledge and behaviours that are important
to the organisation.
Relationship • Builds and maintains positive working relationships with internal
Management and external stakeholders
• Works well as part of the immediate and the wider team and is
supportive and respectful of other team members
• Consults and collaborates with others as appropriate
• Represents VT in a professional and diplomatic manner
• Demonstrates cultural and political awareness
Planning and • Demonstrates effective project management skills
Organisation • Demonstrates effective time management skills
• Prioritises competing demands without compromising the quality
of work delivered
• Plans ahead and completes projects
Communication • Is confident communicating clearly and persuasively to a range of
audiences
• Employs the most appropriate method/medium of
communication to reach the desired audience
• Is able to communicate complex ideas and issues in a way that is
easy to understand
Problem-solving • Demonstrates a solutions-based approach to overcoming
problems in a positive and constructive manner
• Analyses relevant information in a rational manner to form
evidence-based judgements
• Demonstrates creativity and innovation when assessing problems
and developing solutions
Strategic Thinking • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the regional,
national and international context VT operates within
• Understands the strategic goals of VT and what these mean at an
operational level
• Proactively plans and takes appropriate action to achieve goals
• Demonstrates an awareness of the political environment that VT
operates within as a public service entity
Innovation and • Looks for opportunities to make improvements and add value
Change • Works cooperatively with others to develop innovative solutions
• Sees opportunities and responds positively to change
• Is open to feedback and seeks out personal opportunities to
learn and grow
Health, Safety • Complies with the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015 and VT’s
and Wellbeing internal health and safety policies and procedures
• Takes reasonable care of own health and safety while at work
• Actively contributes to promoting a safe working environment
Venture Taranaki Trust
Position Description: Project Manager
April 2021 | Page 45. Qualifications, Experience and Personal
Attributes
• Experience in the food and fibre industry
• Strong project planning, management and budget tracking skills and experience
• Ability to launch/initiate, manage, monitor and ensure the success of a project
• High standard of communication skills and ability to relate to people across all levels and
sectors
• Ability to undertake and/or assess research, apply critical thinking and analysis, establish
priorities and develop appropriate recommendations
• Ability to clearly articulate ideas and thoughts in written format, and to make
presentations to others
• Ability to work well as part of a small and agile team
• Ability to work with stakeholders and team members from all levels, both internally and
externally
• Problem solving skills and an ability to develop and implement innovative solutions
• Excellent computer literacy
• Relevant Tertiary qualification or equivalent experience preferred
Venture Taranaki Trust
Position Description: Project Manager
April 2021 | Page 5You can also read
