Ranger Biodiversity/heritage and Visitors

Would you enjoy a balance of office based and field delivery work in a variety of environments?
- Four weeks + three days annual leave per year, flexible working options
- Permanent full time, Dunedin based.

Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata
If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) serves to protect and sustain nature across Aotearoa. We put nature and people at the heart of our mahi, guided by te reo Māori, te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We do this by:

- protecting land, species, ecosystems, and cultural heritage for conservation purposes
- managing threats and adverse impacts
- being a voice for conservation
- connecting people to nature.

He angitūtanga | About the role
Our Coastal Otago team is looking for a versatile ranger to work across our Biodiversity, Heritage and Visitor work programmes. A large focus of the role is to be the team lead for the Macraes Flat field base and associated Grand and Otago Skink species management programme. This includes acting as team lead for two permanent part-time rangers. You could be responsible for overseeing contract management, work planning and reporting duties, as well as field-based delivery of animal pest control, pest plant control, fencing and community engagement. Building and enhancing relationships is key to the success in this position, not only with your colleagues within Te Papa Atawhai but with iwi, hapu and whānau, landowners, contractors, volunteer groups and other members of the community.
The role will also be responsible for other work programmes in Coastal Otago. Examples include:

- Threatened species management - flora and fauna.
- Threats work - animal pests, weed control and fencing.
- Maintenance of heritage and recreational assets.

The Coastal Otago team places high value on teamwork and cross function-collaboration, meaning you'll also have regular opportunities to contribute to and support the work and innovation of other teams delivering threatened species management and heritage and visitor projects.
This role will be based from the Dunedin office but short periods of times away from home will be required.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
In order to deliver this work we require an experienced, knowledgeable and reliable team player, who is hard-working and enthusiastic and will contribute successfully to the Coastal Otago District team. You'll also have strong safety awareness and a willingness to contribute to a safety-first work environment and positive safety culture. Flexibility is key as you will be working across various work programmes and with various staff.
Ideally, you will also have the following skills and qualifications. If not, our team are committed to offering training and upskilling in these areas:

- a natural heritage or conservation management qualification.
- experience as team lead of a work programme and the ability to work successfully as part of that team; coaching, training and supporting staff, community members, volunteers, etc.
- a strong health and safety focus and experience leading the health and safety of others.
- sound knowledge and experience in practical conservation field delivery work (e.g. threatened species, landscape scale threats (pest plants and animals), building/construction, fencing, heritage sites).
- data collection, data analysis and record-keeping skills.
- good communication and interpersonal skills and a proven ability to produce quality written reports and communications which are relevant and audience appropriate.
- planning and organisation of resources over a programme of work to successfully meet timeframes and objectives.
- experience with contract management.
- experience with working with community partners, landowners, business and volunteers.
- a valid New Zealand driver licence (manual vehicles).
- valid firearms licence.

Desirable
- a current first aid certificate.
- 4WD certification.
- light utility vehicle (LUV) certification.
- a valid Approved Handlers' and/or GROWSAFE certificates.
- backcountry experience and navigation.

Mō te tīma | About the team
The Coastal Otago district team is based in Dunedin and forms part of the Southern South Island Region. The team consists of 27 permanent staff and is led by the Operations Manager. Prioritising and scheduling work is co-ordinated by three Supervisors and three Senior Rangers across Heritage and Visitors, Biodiversity, and Community teams. The district team seeks to strengthen our Treaty relationship by working in true partnership with Ngāi Tahu, as we collaborate with others to protect biodiversity, enhance recreational opportunities and grow the community's appreciation of and involvement in conservation. You will be joining a supportive and collaborative team who value their staff and invest in personal development and growth. We have a positive work culture, an