Ranger at Department of Conservation, Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Do you enjoy being out and about in Te Taiao with the ability to do physical mahi?
• Four weeks + three days annual leave per year pro-rata, flexible working options.
• Permanent fulltime opportunity based in Te Rapa with a wider Waikato focus.

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 

Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 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.

He angitūtanga | About the role

Te Papa Atawhai is seeking our next heritage and visitor focused ranger to join the Waikato operations team. This is a crucial operational role and forms part of a small, close-knit team who maintain campgrounds, historical pā sites, tracks and routes through a variety of changing landscapes from scenic mountains and forest parks to picturesque coastal areas and wetlands. Your mahi will see you involved across the Waikato region including Mount Pirongia, Karioi and the Hakarimata ranges. 

From day to day the job can involve:

• checking and maintaining tracks, huts, bridges, stairways, campsites and ablution facilities
• small scale building work
• operating chainsaws, scrub-bars, backpack sprayers, diggers and other minor earthwork machinery
• assisting with the hands-on ecosystem work carried out by the Biodiversity team  
• interaction with a large range of visitors as well as people from DOC's conservation partnerships
• working alongside other DOC staff, contractors, volunteers and partnering with iwi.

 Te Papa Atawhai is willing to train the successful applicant for this position as we recognise that this your opportunity to commit to a career in conservation.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We are looking for a confident communicator and great team player who has a passion for protecting Aotearoa's heritage and visitor sites.

We want to hear from you if you have:

• hands on and practical skills ideally with light machinery as well as carpentry.
• a high level of physical fitness and experience in the backcountry, particularly in remote and rugged terrain
• excellent planning and organisational skills, with an ability to maintain attention to detail and meet deadlines while managing competing demands
• ability to work as a team member, a team leader and alone
• strong health and safety focus
• a full New Zealand driver licence
• outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.

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:

• 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.

Be involved in meaningful mahi and contribute to conservation through the wider work of:

• protecting land, species, ecosystems, and cultural heritage for conservation purposes
• managing threats and adverse impacts
• being a voice for conservation
• connecting people to nature.

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 $51,278 to $60,578 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 Friday, 3 February 2023.

Me he pātai anō | For further enquiries, contact Will Newbold, wnewbold@doc.govt.nz.

Taupānga| Job Reference: 400/03342