Ranger

CGR Services; Central Otago; On-site; NZD 62,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is seeking a versatile Ranger to work across Biodiversity, Heritage, and Visitor programmes in the Central Otago region. You will gain diverse conservation skills, with duties including track maintenance, weed control, and amenities upkeep, often in remote backcountry settings.

Applicants should be versatile, safety‑minded, physically fit, and able to navigate backcountry terrain. A full driver’s licence and team/independent work capability are essential.

Qualifications

• Must hold a full drivers' licence.
• General maintenance or landscaping experience preferred.
• Able to use computer databases and mobile apps.
• Strong health and safety focus is essential.
• Good physical fitness with backcountry experience.
• Competent in off-track navigation and GPS.
• Good people skills to work in a team and independently.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned project work across Biodiversity, Heritage, and Visitor programmes.
• Maintain back country and front country tracks.
• Weed management and vegetation control where required.
• Maintain and clean front and back country amenities.
• Support community teams as required.

Skills

Driver's licence

Maintenance & landscaping

Tech savviness

Health & safety focus

Backcountry fitness

Navigation & GPS

People skills (team & independence)

Job description

Enjoy working outdoors and want to build on your practical skills with a rewarding career in conservation? Salary: $62,192 to $67,446 Permanent, full-time role-based in Alexandra. Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa Mō te tūranga

About the role

We are looking for a versatile ranger to work across our Biodiversity, Heritage, and Visitor work programmes across the Central Otago region. Your day-to-day work will be diverse, offering the opportunity to gain a range of conservation skills across various teams and environments. The position will be focussed on:

• managing assigned project work
• maintaining both back country and front country tracks
• weed management
• maintaining and cleaning front / back country amenities
• supporting the community teams as required

You may be required to stay away overnight for multiple days in the backcountry, often in remote and rugged terrain.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

You will be versatile and resilient and able to tackle a variety of mahi. If you have the following attributes, we are keen to hear from you:

• a full drivers' licence, ideally with the ability to manoeuvre a trailer
• general maintenance and / or landscaping experience
• tech savvy skills with the ability to use computer databases and mobile applications
• strong health and safety focus
• good level of physical fitness with backcountry experience
• competent in off track navigation and GPS
• good people skills with an ability to work as part of a team and independently

Desirable

• Growsafe certified
• a current First Aid certificate
• carpentry, construction or building skills and experience
• experience and NZQA qualifications with use of chainsaws, weed eaters, scrub bars and 4WDS

We are passionate about developing our people and will provide training for specialised skills suited to the role.

He aha ngā pāinga mōu? | What's in it for you?

DOC places importance on developing a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We're working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable and inclusive by default. You can learn more about what we offer here.

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

Applications close at 11 : 59 pm on Tuesday 29 September 2026

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Richard Gates, Principal Ranger at [e-mail]