Hobson Leavy Executive Search is recruiting for the new General Manager, Forest to Timber Products for Scion. Scion is one of New Zealand’s seven Crown Research Institutes. Established in 1992, Scion’s core purpose is to drive innovation and growth from New Zealand’s forestry, wood product and wood-derived materials and other biomaterial sectors, to create economic value and contribute to beneficial environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand.
With its head office in Rotorua, the organisation has some 350 employees dedicated to improving the international competitiveness of New Zealand’s forestry industry and building a stronger bio-based economy.
Forestry is a major part of New Zealand’s land use and economy, with forestry exports increasing over 8% to $6 billon in the year ending June 2021. The industry has enormous potential for economic growth and innovation with the World Bank projecting that the global demand for wood fibre will quadruple by 2050. Scion has the ability to make a significant impact to New Zealand including through addressing issues such as climate change, the circular bio-economy, and the use of natural resources.
This GM Forests to Timber Products position is an executive team role reporting directly to the CEO, and is responsible for leading one of three ‘Impact Areas’.
The GM will lead Scion’s work centred around growing forests to produce high-value trees for high-value timber manufacturing and products.
The GM will lead the delivery of research, utilising and motivating Scion’s world class scientists to achieve these deliverables. They will oversee a $25m research budget and a team of 4 portfolio leaders. The four portfolio areas are: Trees for High Volume Wood Products, Trees for High Value Wood Products, Indigenous Trees for Distinct Value Wood Products, and New Value from a Digital Forest and Wood Sector.
- The ideal candidate profile will work effectively with private sector organisations and translate and convey scientific messages effectively. They will have the credibility to gain the respect of Scion scientists, and will understand the mechanics of New Zealand’s government funding system.
- The ideal candidate will come from a scientific background (likely PhD qualified) and will ideally understand plantation forestry. Scion employs individuals with a wide variety of scientific expertise; however genetics and microbiology depth would be particularly useful in this role.
- Individuals with experience operating successfully in other research institutes
If you are interested in this role, or would like more information, please contact Ella Hauser, Hobson Leavy Executive Search at hauser@hobsonleavy.com or +64 9 967 3312.