Ranger Heritage and Visitors

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

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation options may be available

Job summary

The Department of Conservation (DOC) in Wanaka is seeking a practical, organised ranger to coordinate visitor infrastructure projects and maintenance across tracks, huts and facilities. You’ll lead the district signage programme, manage service contracts, and ensure work is delivered safely and to a high standard.

With strong planning, relationship-building and contractor administration skills, you’ll work across field and office, coordinating procurement, invoices and asset records while

Qualifications

• Strong planning and organisational skills, able to balance several projects and priorities.
• Experience coordinating contractors, service providers, maintenance programmes or infrastructure work.
• Clear communication and ability to build effective working relationships.
• Willingness to learn new tools and adapt to new systems.
• Full NZ driver’s licence is required.
• Willingness to work both in the field and in the office.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate maintenance and improvement work across tracks, huts, interpretation assets, visitor facilities and recreation infrastructure.
• Lead the district signage programme, from identifying needs through design, procurement, production and installation.
• Scope projects, procure materials and services, and support delivery of the annual visitor asset work programme.
• Manage essential visitor facility servicing and maintenance contracts, including wastewater servicing, and monitor contractor performance.
• Coordinate field delivery and check that work meets safety, quality and service standards.
• Maintain procurement records and invoice processing; keep DOC systems up to date.

Skills

Planning

Contractor coordination

Communication

Teamwork

Procurement

Invoicing

Driver’s license

Tools

Procurement systems

Invoice processing software

Databases/CRM

Job description

• Take ownership of projects across tracks, huts, visitor facilities and recreation infrastructure.
• Enjoy a varied mix of project coordination, practical problem-solving and fieldwork in an exceptional part of Aotearoa.
• Permanent, full-time role based in Wānaka.
• Salary: $65,590–$76,589, depending on skills and experience.
• Accommodation options may be available – contact us to find out more.

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

Mō te tūranga | About the role

From a well-marked track to a welcoming hut, the details make a difference. Join our Heritage and Visitors team and help maintain and improve the places that connect people with the Wānaka District’s heritage and visitor network.

If you enjoy organising work, solving practical problems and seeing the results on the ground, this role offers plenty of variety. You’ll coordinate visitor infrastructure projects and maintenance programmes, lead the district signage programme and manage essential service contracts that keep busy visitor sites running well.

One day you could be on site with a contractor working through an infrastructure issue; the next, scoping a signage project, arranging materials or planning improvements to a track or visitor facility.

Alongside the fieldwork, you’ll keep procurement, invoices and programme records on track so work is delivered safely and to a high standard.

Working with colleagues, contractors, iwi, concessionaires and community groups, you’ll help turn plans into practical improvements that visitors can see and use.

In this role, you’ll:

• Coordinate maintenance and improvement work across tracks, huts, interpretation assets, visitor facilities and recreation infrastructure.
• Lead the district signage programme, from identifying needs through design, procurement, production and installation.
• Scope projects, procure materials and services, and support delivery of the annual visitor asset work programme.
• Manage essential visitor facility servicing and maintenance contracts, including wastewater servicing, and monitor contractor performance.
• Coordinate field delivery and check that work meets agreed safety, quality and service standards.
• Support tenure review outcomes, easement access works, track marking and associated visitor infrastructure.
• Maintain accurate project, contract and asset information in DOC systems, including procurement records and invoice processing.
• Build productive relationships with iwi, contractors, concessionaires, community organisations and other DOC teams.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We’re looking for a practical, organised ranger who combines strong coordination skills with clear communication and a collaborative approach.

You’ll bring demonstrated experience building productive working relationship, taking ownership of work programmes and working constructively across a wider team to deliver shared priorities.

We’d particularly like to hear from you if you bring:

• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to balance several projects and priorities.
• Experience coordinating contractors, service providers, maintenance programmes or infrastructure work.
• A practical approach to solving problems and following work through to completion.
• Clear communication and the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Confidence using computer systems, mobile applications and databases, and a willingness to learn new tools.
• Experience with procurement, contractor administration or invoice processing.
• A willingness to work both in the field and in the office.
• A full New Zealand driver’s licence is required.

It would be an advantage, but is not essential, to have experience with recreation infrastructure, signage, DOC systems, conservation land access arrangements or contractors working in remote environments.

Advanced chainsaw or hazardous tree work experience, first aid, and emergency response, incident or fire management qualifications are also useful.

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.

Salary: $65,590- $76,589 depending on skills and experience.

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

Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, contact Ben Lawrence - [e-mail] [phone]