Ranger Project Lead: Community & Statutory Conservation

Department of Conservation (DOC); Hokitika; On-site; NZD 69,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Conservation (DOC) Hokitika invites applications for a full-time role leading statutory processes and conservation programmes across private and public land. Based in Hokitika, you’ll grow partnerships with iwi, concessionaires, local authorities, and communities while mentoring colleagues and representing DOC in cross-agency work.

Key focus areas include statutory management, advocacy, monitoring, and district collaboration to deliver integrated conservation outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience with statutory processes, resource management, concessions, and compliance monitoring.
• Strong relationship management and negotiation skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in community engagement, consultation, or event planning.
• Ability to interpret and communicate technical information clearly.
• Strong planning, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent writing of reports, assessments and correspondence.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti partnership and engaging with tangata whenua.
• Current full New Zealand driver license.
• Drone pilot experience and 4WD knowledge would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support statutory processes and activities on conservation land.
• Advocacy and outreach in planning and policy processes, building community awareness.
• Monitor compliance and undertake site inspections.
• Stakeholder engagement with Treaty partners, concessionaires, local authorities and communities.
• Collaborate with biodiversity, recreation, visitor, heritage, compliance and operations teams.

Skills

Statutory processes

Relationship management

Community engagement

Technical communication

Planning and analysis

Report writing

Te Tiriti awareness

Driver license

Drone piloting

Job description

The Department of Conservation (DOC) Hokitika invites applications for a full-time role leading statutory processes and conservation programmes across private and public land. Based in Hokitika, you’ll grow partnerships with iwi, concessionaires, local authorities, and communities while mentoring colleagues and representing DOC in cross-agency work.

Key focus areas include statutory management, advocacy, monitoring, and district collaboration to deliver integrated conservation outcomes.