Ranger Campground (Fixed term)

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai; Rotorua; On-site; NZD 61,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai is seeking a Campground Ranger in Rotorua to maintain and oversee campground facilities, ensuring a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for visitors from New Zealand and around the world.

You will deliver excellent visitor experiences through friendly service, information sharing, and proactive site management, while performing day-to-day maintenance and safety checks in Rotorua's outdoor recreation areas.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role maintaining campground or visitor facilities.
• Strong customer service and communication skills with visitors.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative.
• Practical maintenance or groundskeeping experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Good level of physical fitness and ability to work outdoors.
• Experience monitoring water supplies and septic systems (desirable).
• Full New Zealand Driver Licence.
• Desirable: operate push and ride-on mowers safely.
• Current First Aid Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining and improving campground facilities, amenities, and surrounding grounds to ensure a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for visitors.
• Delivering exceptional visitor experiences through customer service, visitor engagement, and providing information about the campground and surrounding recreation opportunities.
• Monitoring campground operations, undertaking routine inspections, addressing issues as they arise, and supporting health and safety and environmental standards.

Skills

Campground experience

Customer service

Independent work

Grounds maintenance

Teamwork

Physical fitness

Water/septic monitoring

Health and safety

Basic computer skills

Growsafe certification

Chainsaw certification

Driver licence

Mower operation

Tools

Growsafe

Chainsaw

Job description

Love the outdoors and meeting new people? Join us in creating memorable camping experiences for visitors.

Salary range: $61,189 to $67,446 depending on skills and experience Fixed term, full-time position through to April 2027 | based in Rotorua

Help create memorable outdoor experiences by maintaining campgrounds and welcoming visitors across Rotorua's recreation areas.

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa Mō te tūranga

About the role

Love the outdoors? Enjoy meeting people? Join our team as a Campground Ranger in beautiful Rotorua.

We are looking for a motivated, customer-focused individual to help maintain and oversee our campground facilities while providing an exceptional experience for visitors from New Zealand and around the world.

As a Campground Ranger, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the campground, ensuring guests enjoy a safe, clean, and welcoming environment. This is a hands‑on role that combines customer service, facility maintenance, and site monitoring. This unique role offers the opportunity to work in some of Rotorua's most stunning outdoor settings, where you'll help visitors connect with and enjoy New Zealand's natural environment while ensuring facilities are maintained to a high standard.

The position will be focussed on:

• Maintaining and improving campground facilities, amenities, and surrounding grounds to ensure a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for visitors.
• Delivering exceptional visitor experiences through customer service, visitor engagement, and providing information about the campground and surrounding recreation opportunities.
• Monitoring campground operations, undertaking routine inspections, addressing issues as they arise, and supporting health and safety and environmental standards.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We're looking for someone who is practical, self‑motivated, and passionate about providing great visitor experiences in the outdoors. If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you:

• Experience in a similar role, including cleaning and maintaining campground, visitor, or recreational facilities.
• Strong customer service and communication skills with the ability to engage positively with a wide range of visitors.
• Ability to work independently, use initiative, and solve problems effectively.
• Practical maintenance or groundskeeping experience is an advantage.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• A positive attitude and willingness to help others.
• Good level of physical fitness and ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Experience monitoring water supplies and septic systems (desirable).
• A strong commitment to health and safety.
• Basic computer skills and confidence using mobile devices.
• Growsafe, chainsaw, or other relevant operational certifications.
• Full New Zealand Driver Licence.
• Desirable: Ability to operate both push and ride‑on mowers safely and effectively.
• Flexibility to work weekends, public holidays, and rostered shifts.
• Current First Aid Certificate.

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.

Eligibility

You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment. Please note, we are not engaging with recruitment agencies for this role. Salary: $61,189 to $67,446, depending on skills and experience.

Rā whakakapi

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Thursday 17th September 2026. This advert may close early, so please apply promptly.

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai

For further enquiries, please contact Graham Southall, Principal Ranger at [e-mail]

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa

The Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) serves to protect and restore nature across Aotearoa. When nature thrives, we all thrive. Ko tā Te Papa Atawhai he tiaki, he whakarauora anō hoki i te taiao puta noa i Aotearoa. He oranga taiao, he oranga tangata. Our people bring this vision to life. Spread across Aotearoa, they care for our land, water, and native species. From frontline rangers and technical experts to vital support teams - we have a diverse range of roles. Read more about DOC