WILDLABS
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Position Title: Drone Operations Manager
Employment Type: Full Time
Contract Type: Temporary – 18-month term, with the possibility of extension
Location: Remote (Based in New Zealand)
Salary Range: $90 – $115k NZD based on experience and location
About Us
Island Conservation (IC) envisions a world filled with vibrant biodiversity, resilient oceans, and thriving island communities. We are the only international non-profit conservation organization with the mission to restore islands for nature and people worldwide. Islands are special places that provide outsized returns on our conservation investments. IC is committed to holistic island-marine ecosystem restorations that combine efforts to improve community livelihoods and climate resiliency, manage invasive species, and reestablish native animals and plants. Learn more about us at www.islandconservation.org.
Position Overview
Island Conservation seeks an experienced and strategic Drone Operations Manager to lead and expand our drone-based restoration efforts. This position will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a drone fleet and managing contracted services, with a primary focus on heavy-lift drone baiting operations that support island restoration. The role includes developing strategic partnerships and business models to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the program.
This position will report to the Director of Impact and Innovation and collaborate closely with the Conservation Innovation Manager to establish effective drone solutions. The role will also work directly with project managers to support the delivery of effective restoration projects across diverse island ecosystems.
This is a grant-funded position with guaranteed salary support and start-up resources for the first 18 months. Continued funding will be dependent upon securing revenue from internal and external projects through the implementation of the manager’s business plan.
Essential Duties
40%
Duty: Program management
Tasks Include:
- Lead the development and implementation of a business plan to deliver effective, compliant, and safe heavy lift drone baiting operations
- Develop, manage, and forecast program budget and costs to ensure long-term sustainability
- Establish and maintain appropriate standards, protocols, certifications, regulatory approval, and insurance for all drone operations or third-party vendors
- Procure and maintain drones, payloads, and supporting equipment to meet operational needs in accordance with maintenance schedules
- Monitor, forecast, and respond to changes in drone legislation to ensure operational compliance
- Review and approve drone operation and safety plans
- Collaborate with Heads of Operations to support proposals and explore new business opportunities
- Create and present case studies at conferences and workshops to advance the use of drone in island restorations
- Collaborate with the Communications team to craft compelling narratives about the impact of drone technologies
- Forge and manage strategic partnerships with NGOs, private companies, and government agencies, to promote drone adoption for conservation
30%
Duty: Project management
Tasks Include:
- Plan and coordinate heavy lift drone baiting operations as part of island restoration projects
- Develop project-specific drone operation plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
- Secure necessary flight waivers and clearances from aviation and land management authorities
- Ensure compliance with operational plans and all relevant regulations
- Manage drone operation teams to deliver projects successfully
- Manage contracts and agreements in line with responsible fiscal and operational practices
- Conduct post operation reviews and ensure all documentation is complete and accurate
15%
Duty: Innovation and improvement
Tasks Include:
- Coordinate with the Conservation Innovation Manager to develop, test, and refine new drone-based tools and methods
- Identify and assess emerging drone use cases with operational teams and industry experts
- Integrate promising new technologies into Island Conservation’s restoration operations
10%
Duty: Supervision and capacity building
Tasks Include:
- Supervise contracted drone pilots as required for project delivery
- Build internal drone operation capacity by training and mentoring team members.
- Develop and maintain instructional materials and digital guides to support safe and effective equipment use and skill development
5%
Duty: Other
Tasks Include:
- Support other duties as assigned that align with the position’s scope and goals
Benefits
This is a full-time exempt position with a competitive salary and a full benefits package, including a four-day work week. Island Conservation offers a flexible work schedule with a remote home office.
Requirements
- Travel: This position requires extensive travel both domestically in New Zealand and internationally with approximately 10+ work trips per year. Trips may vary in length but will regularly be of 4 weeks in duration for island operations in very remote areas with minimal services or ammentities
- Physical requirements: The position will require extensive transporting and handling of heavy equipment (up to 50lbs/23kg) in both urban and rural island environments
- Fieldwork is often conducted in remote and physically demanding environments, sometimes for extended periods. Candidates should be prepared for long days in rugged terrain and living in basic or primitive camping conditions. Due to the remote nature of the work and the need for all team members to contribute to physically demanding tasks and emergency response, the ability to carry heavy loads (up to 50lbs/23 kg), navigate rugged terrain, and perform strenuous activity for extended periods is considered an essential function of this position. While we are committed to fair and inclusive employment practices, the operational realities of field deployments in these environments may limit the extent to which accommodation can be made.
- Must possess a valid passport and a valid driver’s license.
- Must already possess authorization to work from and reside in New Zealand.
- Must be able to adapt working hours to overlap regularly with staff in all relevant time zones (e.g., Europe/UK, America/Pacific, America/Mountain, America/Puerto Rico, U.S./Hawaii, Pacific/Palau, Pacific/Auckland, Chile/Continental).
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
- Minimum of two years’ experience piloting and managing aircraft or drone operations, including operational planning, compliance, and fleet management.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including remote and contract staff.
- Experience and aptitude to lead others without serving as their formal supervisor (i.e. influence without direct authority).
- Proven experience developing and managing budgets, business plans, or cost recovery models.
- Experience establishing and maintaining partnerships or service-based contracts in a technical or conservation context.
- Valid Remote Pilot license certification for New Zealand or equivalent international certification.
- Strong understanding of drone technology, aviation regulations, safety protocols, and operational best practices.
- Proven ability to develop and implement operational and safety protocols for aviation or drone operations.
- Proficiency in analyzing operational data, forecasting costs, and producing actionable business insights.
- Ability to communicate complex technical and financial information to both experts and general audiences.
- Strong strategic thinking and organizational planning skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
- Demonstrated alignment with Island Conservation’s core values and commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Desired Qualifications
- Master’s degree in business, aviation management, environmental science, or related field preferred.
- Experience building and scaling a drone program or aviation services within a business, nonprofit, or governmental organization.
- Demonstrated success in securing regulatory approvals and service agreements for specialized drone operations internationally (e.g., NZ CAA Part 102 or equivalents).
- Experience in business development.
- Familiarity with fleet and operations management software.
- Experience using financial tools to monitor and forecast project or program viability.
- Fluency in Spanish is highly desirable.
- Additional languages relevant to Island Conservation’s operational regions are a plus.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should apply to jobs@islandconservation.org. Only applications including both a cover letter (including desired salary and remote office location) and a resume will be considered.