Senior Ranger Biodiversity

Are you a strategic thinker who can prioritise work and develop the team's thinking towards long term outcomes?
- Do you enjoy supporting others in their delivery of biodiversity conservation?
- Would you like to grow conservation through great relationships and empowering others?
- Come live, work and play in Aotearoa's adventure playground - Queenstown

The Whakatipu-wai-Māori / Queenstown District comprises the Whakatipu basin and part of Mount Aspiring National Park. The District Office is based in Queenstown, one of New Zealand's major tourism destinations. There is also a field base in Glenorchy, at the entrance to the Mount Aspiring National Park.
The district has important biodiversity values and a rich history of both gold mining and settlement. These, together with the mountain, lake and indigenous grassland and forest landscape, provide settings for a nationally important tourism industry and a full range of recreation opportunities. The biodiversity team are responsible for managing a broad range of work programmes for the protection of many species including mohua (yellow heads), Pekapeka (long-tailed bats), whio (blue duck), and predator/pest control programmes for tahr, goats, rats, stoats, and weeds.

**He angitūtanga**: About the Role
As the Senior Ranger, Biodiversity you will be part of a high performing District Leadership Team who are upbeat, motivated, and passionate about working together and collaborating with others to achieve greater conservation outcomes not only for the Whakatipu district but for the Southern South Island Region.
A key to the success of the biodiversity work in Whakatipu
- is its delivery alongside community and iwi partners. The ability to maintain and build on the existing relationships with the wider community, central and local government agencies, businesses, volunteer groups, iwi, hapu and whanau will be crucial.
You will provide advice to the Operations Manager on how the district work program should reflect DOC priorities. You will also:

- Support the Operations Manager by leading the delivery of high-priority complex tasks and relationship management.
- Work with your regional colleagues to ensure integrated delivery of highest priority outcomes for the region
- Scope mahi for the team to lead across a 6-12-month period and support them in their leadership of this mahi month to month.
- Follow treaty principles to align the work of the team with mana whenua aspirations
- Assist the Operations Manager to monitor and report on the work.
- Manage the Biodiversity budget
- Support the development and implementation of the annual district business plan
- Provide technical advice on matters relating to district biodiversity values/sites
- Delegated thinking for the Operations Manager to ensure long term success in a changing environment.
- Undertake field work where able to which includes; trapping, tracking tunnels, species monitoring, weed control in a back country environment

This is a full-time permanent position based either in the Queenstown or Glenorchy office.

**He kōrero mōu**: What we are looking for
You will thrive being part of a hard-working team who enjoys working together to get a job done. You will have a clear and engaging communication style, be comfortable presenting to small and large groups and the ability to build strong relationships and collaborate successfully with others, such as other DOC teams, mana whenua, the community, and stakeholders.
With your science or biodiversity background or knowledge of flora and fauna you will have an enquiring and innovative mind with an interest in conservation and a desire to challenge the norm to find creative solutions to grow conservation outcomes. You will have demonstrated critical thinking and analysis skills and be able to use sound judgement to support work delivery and problem solving.
You have demonstrated an ability to empower others, are comfortable working in a changing environment and are a strategic thinker who can see the big picture and shift the work of the region to align with DOC's goals. You can communicate clear and concise recommendations for the decision maker.
Above all, you will be able to influence and empower others and have a genuine passion for conservation.
Desired skills / qualifications
- BSc and or MSc in Biology/Ecology or similar
- Knowledge and experience of New Zealand's natural ecosystems
- Demonstrate experience in project management
- Experience in budget management
- Competent in the use of computer-based software (ie. excel)
- Comfortable working in New Zealand's remote back country

**Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What's in it for you**:
As part of the Whakatipu Operations team, you will join a tight knit team, who genuinely enjoy working with each, are passionate about the work they do and believe they have a special backyard with what the Whakatipu-wai Maori district offers.
Queenstown and surrounds are known as Aotearoa's “adventure capital”