Senior Ranger

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?
- Would you relish the challenge of helping Papatūānuku to thrive?

**_Toitū te marae a Tāne, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata._**

**_If the land is well and the sea_** **_is well, the people will thrive._**

**At Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) we express our spirit of service and serve Aotearoa through our purpose, Papatūānuku Thrives. Our organisational strategy, Te Kaupapa a Te Papa Atawhai, puts nature and people at the heart of everything we do. It is anchored by te reo Māori and te ao Māori, recognising that Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our relationship with our whānau, hapū and iwi are central to all our work.

The key focus for this exciting, Senior Ranger position is leading our District's biodiversity function. The Mahaanui team delivers a broad range of terrestrial and marine conservation mahi from the Rakaia River in the south to the Conway River in the north. This includes the South Island's largest urban centre of Christchurch and the spectacular Banks Peninsula. The District manages a native plant nursery, has a number of offshore islands with exceptional biodiversity values (mostly predator free), has a base at Akaroa, two marine reserves and a visitor centre in the city centre. The District falls within one of five regions nationally where DOC works in Partnership with Fonterra on the Living Water programme. We have 11 active Jobs for Nature projects and we contribute to the goal of a pest free Banks Peninsula.

The Senior Ranger's role will be to review, prioritise and plan our work, monitor outputs and then report on our activities across the District. The successful applicant will have proven, biodiversity, planning and relationship management skills; and will be a motivated, highly organised and effective person. You will also be responsible for working with iwi, hapū, whānau and external stakeholders.

**_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 Mahaanui district but for the Eastern South Island Region.

A key to the success of the biodiversity work in Mahaanui 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, hapū and whānau 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, and weed control in a varied environment

This is a full-time permanent position based in the Mahaanui District office, located in Sockburn, Christchurch.

**_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