Forester - Gisborne

The Opportunity

Join Pāmu's journey to care for and enhance our forests – creating resilient landscapes that nurture people, the environment, and future generations.

This role is perfect for those passionate about forestry, long-term land care and sustainability.

You'll lead and collaborate across a diversified forestry portfolio in a region with a well-established forestry community. Responsible for managing over 3,000 ha (and growing) of existing forests from both a technical and commercial aspect.

You'll help shape our afforestation programme, using your expertise to guide where radiata and alternative tree species can thrive. Aside from radiata, forest species include redwood, cypress, eucalyptus, manuka and native forests. Most weeks you'll spend 3 - 4 days in the forest, working closely with farm teams and contractors, and the rest planning, budgeting, and connecting with key partners such as HBRC and GDC.

We value flexibility and trust our people to manage their time and work environment in a way that supports both their wellbeing and their work.  You'll have remote support from the wider forestry team and be comfortable working from home or a farm office.

Regular travel across the East Coast is required, ideally you'll be based in Gisborne or Wairoa.

The expected appointing range for this role is: $90 to $125,000 – depending on skills and experience.

Why Choose Forestry at Pāmu

At Pāmu we are on a journey to transform our farms, so they are more productive and more resilient for future generations. We are identifying low productivity areas for forestry on our farms to maximise their productive and environmental potential.

Pāmu has a strong focus on planting alternative trees, redwoods, cypresses, Eucalypts, poplars, oaks and even production totara, for production forestry. We aim to plant the right tree, in the right place for the right purpose. We believe that the future of the forestry industry will be in diverse species forests as new markets demand different values from our timber.

Our afforestation plans aim to mitigate the environmental outcomes of harvesting by planting protection species, such as redwoods and poplars, to protect waterways and mitigate erosion. We have significant environmental planting programmes in buffer areas around waterways that are not suitable for farming or production forestry.

About You

You're an experienced forester who cares deeply about creating sustainable, high-quality forests and enjoys working with others to achieve lasting impact.

As part of Pāmu's dynamic and adaptable team, you'll help drive collaboration, share best practices, and set high forestry standards across our operations. You'll also work closely with forestry contractors and farm teams to ensure these expectations are met.

What You'll Bring:

• A collaborative approach to working with teams and contractors
• Experience managing people and forestry projects
• Background in silvicultural operations
• Experience in setting and negotiating contracts
• Strong skills in scheduling forestry operations
• Ability to develop and manage operational forestry budgets

Nice to have (or we can help you learn):

• Knowledge of relevant legal and policy frameworks
• Proficiency with Geomaster and Avenza Maps
• Strong Microsoft Word and Excel skills
• Experience operating drones
• Experience with alternative and native species management

At Pāmu, we know that diverse perspectives make us stronger. We're proud to have a supportive, inclusive culture and encourage applications from people who share our values – even if you don't meet every single requirement.

Benefits

We offer a competitive salary, ongoing training and development, health and life insurance along with extended parental leave benefits.  Pāmu offers an extra day off during the Christmas break and the role comes with a vehicle and side by side for business use.

If you're based outside the area, we're happy to discuss relocation support to help you make the move.

Apply Now

Applications close Sunday 23 November 2025. We will be reviewing applications as they are received and may progress with applicants prior to closing date.

For more details, please contact Penny Baker – Forestry Business Manager:

To be eligible for this role, you must be available for an in-person interview and have unrestricted legal rights to work in New Zealand. We are unable to accept applicants on temporary work visas for permanent opportunities.

Pāmu provides a safe workplace and the successful applicant will be required to pass a drug and alcohol test and undergo a criminal background check prior to being appointed.