Ranger Biodiversity

Department of Conservation (DOC); Southland; On-site; NZD 66,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Conservation (DOC) on Rakiura (Stewart Island) seeks a Ranger Biodiversity to lead the Pukunui Recovery Project field team, focusing on predator control to protect a critically small dotterel population. You will travel to remote backcountry for extended field stints by boat, helicopter, or on foot.

You will support the Project Lead and Principal Ranger, coordinate logistics, train staff, conduct 1080 and toxin deployments, trap feral cats, and maintain infrastructure while working

Qualifications

• Comfortable working in remote areas for up to ten days at a time, both in a team and solo
• High physical fitness with proven back-country experience
• Familiarity with off-track GPS navigation
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work well in a small team
• Previous experience supporting your colleagues through on-the-job training
• Experience with ground-based predator control using trapping and toxin control
• A dedication to health and safety
• Accurate and detailed record keeping

Responsibilities

• Leading the field team and supporting the team to complete health and safety processes
• Supporting the Project Lead with logistical planning
• Identifying work needs and monitoring their in-field delivery
• In-field coaching of staff to ensure best practice is applied
• Trapping and humanely dispatching feral cats across the Tin Range and other pukunui breeding sites
• Ground-based deployment of 1080 and rodent toxins
• Ground-based hunting of white-tailed deer and avian predator species
• Monitoring pukunui at flocking sites and breeding sites
• Infrastructure and track maintenance
• Working in remote locations alone or alongside other team members or volunteers
• Monitoring and recording your work progress

Skills

Remote backcountry work

Back-country fitness

GPS navigation

Teamwork

On-the-job training

Predator control

Health and safety

Record keeping

Job description

• Protect a nationally critical species in one of Aotearoa’s most unique environments.


• Spend your days in remote back country, working where few people ever get to go.


• Salary Range: $65,590 to $76,589


• 1 full time permanent role - Rakiura Stewart Island.

Mō te tūranga | About the role

As Ranger Biodiversity you will be the Field Team Lead who will lead our dedicated Pukunui Recovery Project (Southern New Zealand Dotterel) field team on Rakiura. The focus for the team is predator control, primarily trapping and laying ground‑based toxin to control feral cats in our effort to protect pukunui. With only 160 birds remaining this is a population on the brink of extinction and heavily reliant on predator control to survive.

You will work alone or in teams of two or three in remote locations for up to 10 days at a time, traveling to and from field sites by small boat, helicopter, or on foot.

You will support the Project Lead and Principal Ranger to ensure field work is delivered effectively and efficiently

You will be tasked with supporting a variety of work in other projects in addition to pukunui work depending on shifting priorities across the broader district work programme. From time‑to‑time work will include supporting hoiho conservation, pest‑free island biosecurity, dune restoration, weed control, visitor infrastructure maintenance and other work as tasked.

The position will be focused on:

• Leading the field team and supporting the team to complete health and safety processes


• Supporting the Project Lead with logistical planning


• Identifying work needs and monitoring their in‑field delivery


• In‑field coaching of staff to ensure best practice is applied


• Trapping and humanely dispatching feral cats across the Tin Range and other pukunui breeding sites


• Ground‑based deployment of 1080 and rodent toxins


• Ground‑based hunting of white‑tailed deer and avian predator species


• Monitoring pukunui at flocking sites and breeding sites


• Infrastructure and track maintenance


• Working in remote locations alone or alongside other team members or volunteers


• Monitoring and recording your work progress

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

If some of following apply to you, we are keen to hear from you:

• Comfortable working in remote areas for up to ten days at a time, both in a team and solo


• High physical fitness with proven back-country experience


• Familiarity with off-track GPS navigation


• Strong communication skills and the ability to work well in a small team


• Previous experience supporting your colleagues through on-the-job training


• Experience with ground-based predator control using trapping and toxin control


• A dedication to health and safety


• Accurate and detailed record keeping

Desirable

• A controlled substances licence (CSL) with 1080 endorsement


• Boating experience and Boat Master qualification


• NZ firearms licence


• Ability to drive a manual vehicle

Mō te tīma | About the team

As part of the Rakiura Operations team, you will join a tight knit crew who genuinely enjoy working with each other and are passionate about the work they do. For more information about living on Rakiura, check out our information sheet or visit http://www.stewartisland.co.nz.

Please note, private accommodation is limited; if required, we have staff accommodation available in a shared house.

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

DOC is committed to a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We’re driven by our values and behaviours, and are working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive by default.

The salary range for this position is $65,590 to $76,589 with the starting salary of the successful applicant 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 whakakapi | Applications close

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday, 14 September 2026.

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries

Please contact Kev Carter, Principal Ranger, at [e-mail] or [phone]