Ranger/Project Lead, Biodiversity at Department of Conservation, Te Anau

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Are you a critical thinker with a broad range of experience planning and delivering conservation programmes?
• Run world-class conservation programmes alongside a motivated and high-performing team
• Live in a friendly community on the doorstep of the spectacular Fiordland National Park
• Permanent, full-time role based in Te Anau, with a team culture that embraces flexible working

We would love to hear what your unique skills and passions are and how they could fit into our team.

To get an idea of what's on our doorstep: https://youtu.be/kR7HJ0YtFt8

 

Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata 

If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive 

 

Te Papa Atawhai, Department of Conservation (DOC) serves to protect and sustain nature across Aotearoa. We put nature and people at the heart of our mahi, guided by te reo Māori, te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We do this by: 

• Protecting land, species, ecosystems, and cultural heritage for conservation purposes 
• Managing threats and adverse impacts 
• Being a voice for conservation 
• Connecting people to nature 

 

He angitūtanga | About the role

The six Project Lead positions in our team have a high salary potential and reflect the complexity of the projects that we run. As a Project Lead, you will manage budgets, complete regular wildlife monitoring, and be involved in big-picture planning with Senior Rangers. Our current Project Leads enjoy the autonomy to manage their own programmes in collaboration with Senior Rangers and Supervisors.

As a Project Lead, your work will be focused on:

• Overseeing conservation programmes in Fiordland National Park
• A mixture of project management and hands-on fieldwork
• A variety of projects focused on threatened species protection (vegetation, birds, bats, lizards, and invertebrates)
• Contract management including planning, delivery, and reporting of operational projects
• Contributing to the long-term planning and strategic thinking of biodiversity conservation in Fiordland

The outgoing Project Lead is responsible for:

• Running a short-tailed bat monitoring programme in the Eglinton Valley, including large scale predator control
• Running conservation programmes on Fiordland sanctuary islands (Chalky and Preservation Inlets)

Having a large team gives us the flexibility to tailor work according to your specific skillset and experience. If you're unsure whether this role is right for you, please get in touch or go ahead and apply.

 

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We are looking for the right person to fit into our dynamic and collaborative team. Maintaining a positive team culture is one of our top priorities.

If you have the following attributes, we are keen to hear from you:

• Critical thinker with ability plan and deliver complex conservation programmes
• A broad range of biodiversity field experience, including in species management
• Great initiative and self-drive
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, with the ability to lead and deliver successfully in collaboration with internal and external groups (tangata whenua, trusts, and local businesses)
• Skill in working with experts to understand technical advice, and applying and communicating technical information clearly
• Competent working in the bush (navigation, GPS use, travelling off-track)
• A tertiary qualification, or equivalent experience and achievements, in conservation/ecology/biology
• Current full driver license

Desirable: 

• Experience planning and delivering pest control operations to protect threatened species

 

Mō te tīma | About the team

We are a team of motivated and high performing biodiversity rangers who enjoy each other's company and a collaborative work environment. We have 15 permanent staff including six Project Leads, four Senior Rangers, two Supervisors and several field Ranger positions. In summer, we usually employ an additional 3-4 seasonal field rangers to support our peak season. A large part of our fieldwork is delivered by external contractors, for example, an extensive trapping programme in the Murchison Mountains.

One of the most desirable things about working on our team is the huge range of projects and geographical areas we work in. This gives everyone an opportunity to be involved in a wide variety of work. Our team delivers conservation work across Fiordland, including: 

• Predator control and monitoring (on offshore islands such as Resolution and Chalky, Eglinton Valley and around Lake Hauroko)
• Threatened species monitoring and management (bats, kākā, lizards, invertebrates, rodents, marine mammals)
• Marine monitoring (Undaria, dolphins, whales, marine reserves)
• Ecosystem restoration (Murchison Mountains, Waitutu, Resolution and Secretary Islands)
• Weed/invasive species control (Mavora Lakes, Big Bay, Eglinton, Clinton and Arthur Valleys)
• Infrastructure maintenance (such as huts and tracks used by the biodiversity team)

We're proud to have a culture of flexible working, including adapting our hours and location of work. We enjoy the autonomy and trust to work on our own projects. People in our team regularly enjoy social activities including potlucks, swapping vegetables, tramping/hunting/fishing trips and game nights.

Check out our December Bio Bulletin to get an idea of what has been happening in our team recently. 

 

Living in Te Anau

Te Anau is a fantastic place to live for people of all ages and stages of life. Locals enjoy a relaxed community lifestyle with access to larger centres like Queenstown and Invercargill a 2-hour drive away. Our community is vibrant with a strong family network, new arts hub, indoor rock climbing wall, sports centre, and community garden. Our safe and supportive community is a perfect place for families. 

Te Papa Atawhai is the second biggest employer in Te Anau, with around 60 permanent employees. This creates a great social network of people who will make you feel welcome. Commuting to work is a highlight for many, with biking or walking along the lakefront and no traffic congestion. Our office is right on the lakefront, with views across to the Kepler and Murchison mountains. Many staff enjoy jogging, kayaking or swimming from our doorstep, sometimes even at lunchtime!

 

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What's in it for you?

Te Papa Atawhai is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve, creating an inclusive workplace culture, supporting the relationship between Māori and the Crown, and lifting our cultural capability. We encourage our people to bring their authentic self and unique perspectives to work, in pursuit of our collective aspirations. Our commitment to well-being and professional development includes:

• Flexible working opportunities suited to your role
• Career development, secondment and training opportunities to help you realise your goals
• Study assistance in programmes that are relevant to your work
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and discounted medical insurance
• Great discounts on DOC accommodation and outdoor apparel and gear so you're ready for your next adventure
• Te Pukenga Atawhai – Cultural Capability Development Programme

 

Tono ināianei | Apply now 

Apply online via the DOC Careers Centre with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills experience and motivation for joining Te Papa Atawhai. 

The salary range for this position is $62,535 to $79,906 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being based on their relevant skills and experience.  

Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory – this includes holding a valid work visa that covers the whole period of employment.

 

Rā katinga | Applications close at 5 pm on Monday, 13 February 2023

Me he pātai anō | For further enquiries, contact:

• Marie Kealey, Recruitment Advisor, at mkealey@doc.govt.nz
• Dulkara Martig, Supervisor in the Te Anau Biodiversity team, at dmartig@doc.govt.nz or on 027 342 2080

Taupānga | Job reference: DOC/1691968