Ranger (Fixed Term 0.6FTE)

New Zealand Government; Te Anau; On-site; NZD 62,000 - 67,000; Part time

Job summary

Te Anau Bird Sanctuary in Te Anau, Southland, New Zealand, is seeking a part-time caretaker to help care for threatened native birds, assist with welfare and sanctuary maintenance.

You will feed birds, manage water supplies, clean aviaries, perform pest and weed control, and follow biosecurity protocols to protect captive species. Applicants with a practical conservation mindset are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Strong personal commitment to Health and Safety.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Physically fit for outdoor manual work.
• Willingness to follow animal welfare and biosecurity procedures.
• Positive attitude and adaptability in a dynamic environment.
• Full New Zealand driver licence.

Responsibilities

• Feed birds and maintain fresh water supplies.
• Undertake bird husbandry tasks and support animal welfare.
• Maintain aviaries through cleaning and enrichment.
• Carry out site maintenance: pest and weed control, pruning, and upkeep.
• Follow biosecurity protocols and national guidance for captive species.
• Collaborate with colleagues to deliver daily work programmes.

Skills

Health and safety

Communication skills

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Physical fitness

Animal welfare procedures

Adaptability

NZ driver licence

Job description

Care for threatened and taonga native bird species at the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary. Support animal welfare, husbandry, and sanctuary maintenance activities.

Salary Range: $62,192 to $67,446 FTE (pro rata for part-time hours).

'Part-time, 24 hours per week (0.6 FTE), fixed-term role ending 30 June 2028, based in Te Anau.

Mō te tūranga | About the role

Join the team at Te Anau Bird Sanctuary and play an important role in the daily care and wellbeing of some of New Zealand's unique native bird species.

This hands-on role focuses on bird husbandry, animal welfare, and sanctuary upkeep.

Working as part of a small team, you'll help ensure the sanctuary operates to a high standard while providing a safe and healthy environment for birds in our care.

Your day-to-day work will include: feeding birds and maintaining fresh water suppliesundertaking bird husbandry tasks and supporting high standards of animal welfaremaintaining aviaries, including cleaning, water blasting, and providing enrichmentcarrying out site maintenance activities such as pest control, weed control, scrub-barring, pruning, and general upkeepfollowing biosecurity protocols and national HPAI guidance for captive species managementworking collaboratively with colleagues to deliver daily work programmessupporting operational activities across the sanctuary as requiredClick here for the Role Description

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We are looking for a motivated team player with a practical approach to work and a genuine interest in conservation. You'll be comfortable working outdoors, have a strong focus on animal welfare, and take pride in maintaining high standards. If you have the following skills and attributes, we'd love to hear from you: a high personal commitment to Health and Safetygood communication skills, both written and verbalthe ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a teamstrong organisational skills and attention to detailphysical fitness and the ability to undertake manual outdoor worka willingness to follow animal welfare and biosecurity proceduresa positive attitude and adaptability in a dynamic work environmentDesirable: experience or familiarity with bird husbandry, animal care, or captive species managementexperience maintaining facilities, grounds, or outdoor environmentspest control and weed management experiencea current First Aid Certificateexperience working in conservation or a related fielda full New Zealand driver licence

Mō te tīma | About the team

You will be joining a supportive and collaborative team who value their staff and invest in personal development and growth. The wider Te Anau office consist of 50 staff, and this increases by approximately 40 during the busy summer season. The operational team is led by the Operations Manager and consists of the Heritage and Visitors, Biodiversity, and Community teams. We have a positive work culture and sometimes get to work across teams when there is priority work on.

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.

Rā'whakakapi'| Applications close

Applications close'at 11:59 pm on'Tuesday 06 October 2026.

The salary range for this position'is'62,192 to $67,446 FTE (pro rata for part-time hours) 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.