Akura Nursery Officer

Greater Wellington Regional Council; Wellington; On-site; NZD 73,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working policy

Learning and development opportunities

Medical and trauma insurance

Employee assistance programme (EAP)

Job summary

Greater Wellington Regional Council seeks a Nursery Officer to support planting operations across Akura and Te Uru o Tāne Nurseries in Masterton and Carterton. The role is permanent, full-time and involves producing planting stock for soil conservation, river management, and environmental restoration.

You will manage daily nursery activities, stock, orders and logistics, coordinate poplar/willow supply, and assist eco-sourcing and propagation programmes.

Qualifications

• Experience in nursery operations, horticulture, farming, forestry or a related field.
• Knowledge of nursery production, plant husbandry, irrigation, and stock management.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple activities and priorities.
• Experience working with contractors and suppliers.
• Good customer service and relationship management skills.
• Understanding of inventory management, procurement, and supply chain processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Full current NZ driver's licence.
• Tractor experience or relevant machinery operation experience is desirable.
• Willingness and ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Practical, hands-on approach and commitment to health and safety.

Responsibilities

• Carry out day-to-day nursery activities across multiple nursery sites.
• Manage stock, orders, dispatch and collection of planting material.
• Coordinate the supply of poplar and willow stocks for approved planting programmes.
• Support eco-sourcing and propagation programmes with external partners.
• Operate and maintain nursery equipment and machinery, including tractors.
• Undertake seasonal tasks such as irrigation, pest control and fertiliser application.
• Contribute to our Nursery innovation and monitoring programmes.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with customers, suppliers, contractors and stakeholders.
• Provide advice and support on a range of planting enquiries.

Skills

Nursery operations

Horticulture

Stock management

Irrigation

Organisation

Contractor coordination

Customer service

Health & safety

Driver's license (NZ)

Machinery operation (tractor)

Tools

Tractor operation

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Greater Wellington Regional Council – Wellington, North Island

We're looking for a Nursery Officer to join our dedicated Planting Operations team. This permanent, full-time role is based across our Akura and Te Uru o Tāne Nurseries in Masterton and Carterton.

About the role:

As a Nursery Officer, you'll play a key role in delivering nursery operations that support Greater Wellington's environmental outcomes. You'll help produce and supply the poplar and willow planting stock that underpins soil conservation, river management, catchment, and environmental restoration programmes across the Wellington region.

Working within the Planting Operations team, you will:

• Carry out day-to-day nursery activities across multiple nursery sites
• Manage stock, orders, dispatch and collection of planting material
• Coordinate the supply of poplar and willow stocks for approved planting programmes
• Support eco-sourcing and propagation programmes with external partners
• Operate and maintain nursery equipment and machinery, including tractors
• Undertake seasonal tasks such as irrigation, pest control and fertiliser application
• Contribute to our Nursery innovation and monitoring programmes
• Build and maintain positive relationships with customers, suppliers, contractors and stakeholders
• Provide advice and support on a range of planting enquiries

You’ll report to the Lead Supervisor Nursery and work closely with the wider Planting Operations team.

Skills and experience required:

• Experience in nursery operations, horticulture, farming, forestry or a related field
• Knowledge of nursery production, plant husbandry, irrigation, and stock management
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple activities and priorities
• Experience working with contractors and suppliers
• Good customer service and relationship management skills
• Understanding of inventory management, procurement, and supply chain processes
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Full current NZ driver's licence
• Tractor experience or relevant machinery operation experience is desirable
• Willingness and ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• A practical, hands‑on approach and commitment to health and safety

As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to be vaccinated against waterborne diseases and maintain these vaccinations while employed in this role. Please include in your application your ability to meet this requirement.

What we offer:

• Work to suit your life and whānau with our flexible working policy.
• We'll encourage you to grow and prosper with a range of learning and development opportunities, internal secondments and career progression.
• Your wellbeing is our priority - we'll provide medical and trauma insurance, support through our employee assistance programme, including Rongoā Māori partner providers, generous annual leave, along with Tangihanga leave and support.
• We want you to have a sense of belonging, where you can reflect your personal and cultural identity in the way that you work.
• Social clubs, staff networks and a friendly and inclusive culture.
• Great working environments across our beautiful region.

Come help treasure and grow our rohe together

Our rohe and its lands, waterways, animals, plants and people can only grow stronger if they are nurtured.

To join our team is to step up and commit to playing an active part in this important mahi. That means restoring nature, connecting people and places, reducing environmental impacts and helping this rohe and its people prosper.

We are part of a collective movement alongside mana whenua and community members whose hopes for the future of this region are just as high as your own.

Our efforts across environmental management, public transport, flood protection, regional parks and water supply are interconnected and integral to treasuring our rohe and growing our future.

Applications close: 5.00pm, Sunday, 20 September 2026. However, we will be shortlisting applications as they come in and will interview as soon as possible to secure the right person.

Agency applications won't be considered at this time.

Greater Wellington is an accredited Living Wage Employer. We're committed to making sure our people, including people in our supply chain, earn enough to meet life's basic needs, support their whānau, and participate fully in their communities.

The total remuneration for this position, including all benefits, is $73,378 to $110,068, with a midpoint of $91,723. Starting remuneration will depend on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.