Ranger Heritage And Visitor

CGR Services; Southland; On-site; NZD 66,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

You will join the Department of Conservation in Fiordland, Te Anau, performing hands-on field work maintaining huts, bridges, tracks and historic sites. You will support the ranger team with logistics, safety briefings and backcountry operations in remote environments, with occasional office tasks for planning.

The role is field-based, demanding physical fitness and strong safety focus, with access via driving, walking or helicopter, and opportunities to work with helicopters and boats where

Qualifications

• Hands-on, practical skillset in trades (carpentry, building, plumbing, infra maintenance)
• High physical fitness and backcountry experience
• Experience with hut and bridge maintenance
• Understanding/experience around helicopters and boats
• Good planning and organisational skills
• Tech-savvy with apps and computer systems
• Strong health and safety focus
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Valid driver’s licence
• Ability to lead teams and volunteers on department projects

Responsibilities

• Maintain backcountry huts, bridges and structures
• Maintenance on historic sites
• Track clearing and maintenance using tools; certification preferred for diggers equipment
• Support rangers at Great Walk huts with supplies and sewage systems
• Lead team safety briefings; prioritise safety daily
• Access to worksites by driving, walking or helicopter

Skills

Hands-on skills

Physical fitness

Hut maintenance

Bridge maintenance

Helicopters/boats experience

Planning and organisation

Tech-savvy

Health and safety focus

Interpersonal & communication

Driver's licence

Lead teams/volunteers

Education

First Aid certificate

Chainsaw certification

Excavator operating certification

Job description

• Put your practical skills to use in mahi that connects people with nature
• Work outdoors in Fiordland's remote backcountry
• Salary Range : $65,590 - $76,589
• Permanent, full time role, based in Te Anau

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

About the role

You'll play a key role in maintaining visitor and historic assets across Fiordland National Park while supporting the Principal Ranger with field operations, logistics, and technical guidance for the ranger team. In this role, you will be involved in :

• ' * maintaining back country huts, bridges, and other structures'
• ' * maintenance work on our historic sites'
• ' * track clearing and maintenance in the back and front country, using scrub bars, chainsaws, and diggers (if you have the qualifications) '
• ' * supporting rangers at Great Walk huts with supplies and sewage system maintenance'
• ' * leading team safety briefings and taking responsibility for your safety and the safety of your team mates every day'
• ' * access to work sites is either driving, walking or helicopter.'

This position is predominantly field'based, with most of your work taking place in remote and rugged environments where you'll be required to spend extended periods in the backcountry. You'll also complete some office'based tasks to support project planning and organisation. Click here for the Role Description

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We are looking for a confident communicator who can work well in a team environment as well as alone. If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you :

• ' * a hands-on practical skillset, ideally gained through carpentry, building, plumbing, infrastructure maintenance, or similar trades'
• ' * a high level of physical fitness and experience in the backcountry'
• ' * experience in hut and bridge maintenance'
• ' * an understanding of or experience working around helicopters and boats'
• ' * good planning and organisational skills'
• ' * tech-savvy skills and experience using apps and computer-based systems'
• ' * a strong health and safety focus'
• ' * outstanding interpersonal and communication skills'
• ' * a valid driver's licence'
• ' * an ability to lead teams and volunteers undertaking work for the department'

Desirable

• ' * a current First Aid certificate'
• ' * chainsaw certification'
• ' * Excavator operating certification / experience'

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 at 11 : 59 pm on Monday 5 October 2026

The salary range for this position is $65,590 to $76,589 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being 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.

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