Ranger - Project Lead, Heritage and Visitors

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai; Te Anau; On-site; NZD 69,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai in Te Anau seeks a Ranger Project Lead - Heritage and Visitors to drive field-based conservation and visitor infrastructure across the lower South Island. You’ll lead on-site delivery, manage resources, and mentor a small team, ensuring safety and high-quality outcomes.

You’ll coordinate tracks, huts, heritage assets and partnerships from Milford to Rakiura, with a hands-on, front-line approach.

Qualifications

• Experience in building or construction, gained through either a trade qualification or practical field-based work.
• Experience operating machinery, including chainsaws and diggers.
• Experience leading projects or coordinating operational work programmes.
• Strong planning, organisation and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading teams and creating positive working environments.
• Confidence working in backcountry, remote or outdoor environments.
• Experience with heritage assets, visitor infrastructure or conservation projects.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach.
• Current full New Zealand driver licence.

Responsibilities

• Leading practical infrastructure, heritage and visitor projects from planning through to delivery.
• Coordinating resources, work programmes and project priorities across the district.
• Providing day-to-day leadership and direction for project staff in the field.
• Working alongside teams to deliver real on-the-ground outcomes (not just managing from behind a desk).
• Monitoring project timelines, budgets, risks and performance.
• Building strong relationships with internal teams, contractors and community partners.

Skills

Construction background

Machinery operation

Project leadership

Planning & organization

Team leadership

Backcountry experience

Heritage assets experience

Stakeholder relationships

NZ driver licence

Job description

Lead field-based conservation projects from Fiordland to Rakiura Monday to Friday role with a mix of front country and backcountry work Permanent role | Salary range - $69,429 - $88,181 dependent on experience Based In Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park

Combine your practical building or construction background with project leadership and field-based conservation work

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

About the role

As Ranger Project Lead - Heritage and Visitors, you'll take a field-first approach to project delivery - spending around 75% of your time on site leading conservation and visitor infrastructure projects across the lower South Island. One week you could be coordinating track or hut improvements on iconic Great Walks (such as Milford, Kepler or Routeburn), the next working alongside field teams on heritage structures, visitor assets, or infrastructure projects stretching from Oamaru to Rakiura. Reporting to the Principal Ranger, you'll lead DOC's Fit-for-Purpose programme across the Te Anau District, ensuring assets and infrastructure are safe, fit for purpose, and support outstanding visitor experiences and conservation outcomes. You'll have the autonomy to plan, prioritise and deliver your work programme, while also leading a small team of fixed-term staff working on projects across the district.

The position will also include:

• Leading practical infrastructure, heritage and visitor projects from planning through to delivery
• Coordinating resources, work programmes and project priorities across the district
• Providing day-to-day leadership and direction for project staff in the field
• Working alongside teams to deliver real on-the-ground outcomes (not just managing from behind a desk)
• Monitoring project timelines, budgets, risks and performance
• Building strong relationships with internal teams, contractors and community partners
• Supporting conservation initiatives in some of Aotearoa New Zealand's most remote and remarkable locations

Click here for the Role Description

Please note that DOC housing is not available for this position and rental accommodation in Te Anau can be limited. Many staff choose to commute from surrounding areas such as Mossburn, Manapōuri and Lumsden.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We're looking for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves and leading from the front. You may come from a conservation, building, infrastructure, construction, asset management, forestry or project delivery background. If you have some of the following, we are keen to hear from you:

• Experience in building or construction, gained through either a trade qualification or practical field-based work
• Experience operating machinery, including chainsaws and diggers
• A passion for conserving and enhancing huts, tracks and heritage sites
• Experience leading projects or coordinating operational work programmes
• Strong planning, organisation and problem-solving skills
• Experience leading teams and creating positive working environments
• Confidence working in backcountry, remote or outdoor environments
• Experience with heritage assets, visitor infrastructure or conservation projects
• The ability to build effective relationships with whānau, hapū, iwi, communities and partner organisations
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Current full New Zealand driver licence
• Experience around helicopters and vessels would also be advantageous

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.

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

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Tuesday 10th November

For further enquiries, please contact Leeza Young, Senior Recruitment Advisor, [e-mail].

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.