Ranger (Fixed-Term)

New Zealand Government Joba; Nelson; On-site; NZD 62,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation

Job summary

The Department of Conservation is seeking a Ranger to operate across the Nelson Lakes district, with a mix of front-country and backcountry tasks including tracks, huts, campsites, and visitor facilities. You will develop practical conservation skills and work across heritage and visitor operations in a dynamic, multi-team environment.

The role requires staying in backcountry areas, holding a full driver's licence, and having robust health, safety awareness, and fitness.

Qualifications

• Full drivers' licence; ability to trailer a vehicle
• General maintenance or landscaping experience
• NZQA qualifications with use of chainsaws, weed eaters, scrub bars and 4WD
• Strong health and safety focus
• Good physical fitness with backcountry experience
• Good people skills; able to work in a team and independently
• Tech savvy; use of computer databases and mobile apps

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned project work across heritage and visitor programs
• Maintain back country and front country tracks
• Maintain and clean front/back country amenities
• Support other regional teams as required
• Stay away overnight for multiple days in the backcountry

Skills

Driver's licence

Maintenance experience

Safety mindset

Teamwork and independence

Tech savvy (databases, apps)

Education

NZQA qualifications

Tools

Chainsaws

Weed eaters

Scrub bars

4WD

Job description

Our vision:

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

Mŋ te tūru | About the role

We are looking for a ranger to work across our Heritage, and Visitor work programme across the Nelson Lakes district.

Your day-to-day work will be diverse, offering the opportunity to gain a range of conservation skills across various teams and environments.

Mix of front-country and backcountry work, including tracks, huts, campsites, and visitor facilities

Develop practical conservation skills including asset maintenance, project delivery, and field operations

Diverse role across heritage and visitor operations with no two days the same

Salary: $62,192-$67,446 depending on skills and experience

Full-time fixed-term position November - April 2027 based St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes with accommodation options available

The position will be focussed on:

• Managing assigned project work
• Maintaining both back country and front country tracks
• Maintaining and cleaning front/ back country amenities
• Supporting other teams in the region as required

You will be required to stay away overnight for multiple days in the backcountry

Ngā pōkuenga me īnngā 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
• experience and NZQA qualifications with use of chainsaws, weed eaters, scrub bars and 4WD
• strong health and safety focus
• good level of physical fitness with backcountry experience
• good people skills with an ability to work as part of a team and independently
• tech savvy skills with the ability to use computer databases and mobile applications

Desirable

• Growsafe certified
• a current First Aid certificate
• carpentry, construction or building skills and experience
• Class 2 licence

Even if you don't tick all the boxes but believe your skills and experience closely align, then we still encourage you to submit an application.

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.

Salary: $62,192-$67,446 depending on skills and experience

Eligibility

You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Applications close

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 7 October 2026

Contact

For further enquiries, please contact Philippa Cox, Principal Ranger, [e-mail].