Ranger Heritage and Visitors

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai; Wānaka; On-site; NZD 66,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai in Wanaka is seeking a skilled coordinator to manage priority visitor infrastructure projects and service contracts across the Wanaka District. This role will ensure high-quality visitor experiences and safe, well-maintained assets.

You will oversee procurement, invoicing, and contractor administration while leading the district signage programme and supporting asset improvements, tracks, huts and visitor facilities.

Qualifications

• Experience managing contractors or maintenance programmes.
• Proficient with computer systems, mobile apps, databases, and digital asset-management tools.
• Excellent organisational skills with ability to handle multiple programmes and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate service contracts for visitor infrastructure and maintenance.
• Monitor contractor performance, process invoices, ensure safety and quality standards.
• Administer records in DOC systems to support asset management.
• Lead district signage programme from design to installation.
• Coordinate maintenance across visitor assets, tracks, huts, facilities.
• Support tenure review and track marking projects.
• Scope projects, procure materials/services, support annual work programmes.
• Collaborate with iwi, concessionaires, communities, and contractors.

Skills

Contractor management

Digital tools

Procurement & invoicing

Organisational skills

Visitor infrastructure

NZ driver's licence

Job description

Help deliver major visitor infrastructure projects across the stunning Wānaka District. Enjoy a varied role combining project coordination, fieldwork, heritage protection, and visitor asset management.

Salary: $65,590- $76,589 Permanent, Full time role based in Wanaka

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

About the role

Join the Heritage and Visitors team in Wānaka and play a key role in maintaining and improving some of New Zealand's most iconic visitor destinations. This position is responsible for coordinating priority visitor infrastructure and service contracts that support high-use visitor sites across the district. A significant focus of the role is managing service contracts for visitor facilities, including effluent disposal programmes, contractor coordination, procurement, invoice processing and ensuring facilities are maintained to a high standard. The role also leads the district signage programme and supports the planning and delivery of visitor asset improvements, track marking projects, access infrastructure, and other heritage and visitor initiatives. Working alongside colleagues, contractors, iwi, concessionaires, community groups and stakeholders, you'll help ensure visitors continue to enjoy safe, high-quality experiences across the Wānaka District.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing service contracts that support visitor infrastructure, including effluent disposal programmes and other priority maintenance services.
• Monitoring contractor performance, processing invoices, and ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently, and to agreed standards.
• Administering and maintaining accurate records within DOC systems and applications to support programme delivery and asset management.
• Leading the district signage programme, including identifying requirements, coordinating design and procurement, managing production, and overseeing installation.
• Coordinating maintenance and improvement work across visitor assets including tracks, huts, interpretation assets, visitor facilities, and recreation infrastructure.
• Supporting the implementation of tenure review outcomes, easement access works, track marking projects, and associated visitor infrastructure establishment where required.
• Scoping projects, procuring materials and services, and supporting the successful delivery of annual work programmes.
• Working collaboratively with internal teams, iwi, concessionaires, community organisations, and contractors to achieve positive visitor outcomes.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Experience managing contractors, service providers, or maintenance programmes
• Confidence using computer systems, mobile applications, databases, and digital asset-management tools
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple programmes, contracts, and competing priorities
• Experience with procurement, invoice processing, and contractor administration
• Experience planning, coordinating, or delivering visitor infrastructure or maintenance programmes
• Strong communication and relationship management skills
• Practical problem-solving ability and a willingness to take ownership of work programmes
• A full New Zealand driver's licence

Desirable:

• Experience working within DOC systems and applications
• Knowledge of visitor asset management and recreation infrastructure
• Experience with signage design, procurement, or installation
• Knowledge of public conservation land management, tenure review implementation, easements, or access arrangements
• Experience working with contractors in remote or challenging environments
• Advanced / High level chainsaw qualifications and / or experience undertaking tree felling or hazardous tree work
• Qualifications or experience in emergency response, incident management, fire management, or related
• FENZ accreditation
• Current First Aid qualification

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.

Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Thursday 17 September 2026

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

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.