Head of Operations

Head of Operations

Rockquest Promotions | Auckland | Full-time

Bring your operational leadership to the organisation behind some of Aotearoa’s best-known youth arts programmes.

Rockquest Promotions has a long history of creating opportunities for young people through the arts. Our programmes include Smokefreerockquest, Smokefree Tangata Beats, Rockshop Bandquest, Showquest, Toi, OnScreen and Stills, connecting generations of young creatives with audiences, mentors and opportunities across Aotearoa.

We have an established track record of securing funding, building trusted partnerships and delivering programmes with meaningful outcomes for young people.

RQP is a small, established organisation with national reach. This is a practical leadership role, working closely with the GM and programme managers to bring people, budgets, systems, and delivery together.

This newly created position offers the opportunity to shape how we work, strengthen our operations and support a creative team delivering nationally recognised programmes.

About the role

Reporting to the GM, you’ll manage day-to-day operations across RQP’s programmes, company and charitable trusts. You’ll turn organisational priorities into practical plans, coordinate resources and maintain clear visibility of delivery, finances and risk.

You’ll lead our programme and functional managers, setting clear expectations, supporting their development and holding them accountable for agreed plans and budgets.

Programme managers retain responsibility for programme content, quality, participant experience and delivery within their portfolios. Your role is to connect their plans, resolve competing demands and provide the shared systems, supplier arrangements and resources that support successful delivery.

The GM retains responsibility for organisational direction, major partnerships and overall sustainability. You’ll work closely together, making operational decisions within agreed authority and providing the information needed to support strategic decisions.

You’ll have access to external Finance, HR, IT and other professional advisers, and will coordinate their support across the organisation.

You’ll also work with the Funding and Grants Manager on day-to-day priorities, deadlines and budgets. Their formal reporting line remains with the GM.

What you’ll do

• Develop and maintain RQP’s annual operating plan, master calendar and resource requirements across all programmes.
• Resolve competing demands involving staff, venues, travel, suppliers and delivery priorities.
• Lead and support programme and functional managers through clear responsibilities, regular planning conversations and effective performance management.
• Coordinate recruitment, onboarding, staff development and workload planning, working with external HR support.
• Build and monitor organisational and programme budgets with the GM, Finance, and programme managers, maintaining visibility into cash flow, commitments, forecasts, and variances.
• Manage major supplier arrangements, including venues, production, ticketing, travel and accommodation, and negotiate contracts, pricing, and service expectations.
• Improve shared systems, policies and operational processes so information is accessible and teams can work consistently and effectively.
• Oversee health and safety, organisational risk, insurance, privacy and compliance, working with the GM and external advisers where needed.
• Coordinate outsourced Finance, HR, IT and other professional services.
• Provide timely operational and financial reporting to the GM, support Board reporting and raise emerging risks early.

You’ll combine planning and oversight with practical involvement during busy delivery periods, while building the capability and confidence of the managers around you.

About you

You’re an experienced operations leader who enjoys working in a smaller organisation where relationships matter, and your decisions have a visible impact.

You can move comfortably between people, budgets, contracts, systems and delivery planning. You bring order to competing priorities, communicate expectations clearly and follow through.

You understand how to give managers genuine responsibility while providing the support and oversight they need. You’re also comfortable recognising when specialist advice is required and putting that advice into practice.

You’ll bring:

• Experience managing operations across multiple programmes, teams or locations.
• Proven experience leading managers and developing capable teams.
• Strong financial and commercial skills, including budgeting, forecasting, expenditure control and supplier negotiation.
• Experience improving systems and processes in a practical working environment.
• A working understanding of New Zealand employment practice, health and safety, privacy and organisational risk.
• Clear communication, sound judgement, and confidence when working with senior leaders, external advisers, and suppliers.

Experience in events, arts, education, youth development or the not-for-profit sector would be valuable. We also welcome applicants with relevant operational leadership experience from other sectors.

You’ll respect the creative purpose of our work and enjoy building the structure that allows people and ideas to succeed.

Why join RQP?

This is a rare opportunity to bring your operational experience to an established organisation whose programmes hold a recognised place in Aotearoa’s youth arts landscape.

You’ll work closely with the GM, support a creative and committed team, and have meaningful scope to improve how the organisation operates.

You’ll see the connection between your work and the opportunities we create for young people on stages, in schools and in communities nationwide.

Our purpose is simple: a stage to create, develop and thrive.

The practical details

This is a full-time, Auckland-based role. Some national travel and evening or weekend work will be required during major event and delivery periods.

You’ll need a full New Zealand driver's licence and the legal right to work in New Zealand. Appointment is subject to satisfactory reference checks, Police vetting and youth-safety checks.

Apply

Apply through SEEK with your CV and a brief cover letter.

Tell us about an organisation or team you’ve helped operate more effectively, the improvements you made and why you’d like to bring your experience to RQP.

We will only accept applications via SEEK platform.