Visitor Centre Lead

• Lead a passionate front-facing team in one of Aotearoa's most iconic conservation hubs, where nature and people connect every day.
• Salary: $68,878 to $87,265
• Full time, permanent role based in Te Anau.

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

The Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) serves to protect and restore nature across Aotearoa. When nature thrives, we all thrive.

Ko tā Te Papa Atawhai he tiaki, he whakarauora anō hoki i te taiao puta noa i Aotearoa. He oranga taiao, he oranga tangata.

Mō te tūranga | About the role

The Visitor' Centre team is the face of Te Papa Atawhai . We are responsible for ensuring that every person who walks through the door has a memorable customer experience, whether they are booking a Great Walk, looking for information (or elusive kiwis), checking out the displays, purchasing tramping supplies or just sheltering from the rain. You will be responsible for ensuring that the Visitor Centre team have the resources and skills to deliver high-quality service with targeted regional and local information, promoting our connections with tangata whenua and highlighting our unique cultural heritage.

This Visitor Centre team is passionate about the work they do and has a culture of inclusiveness and support with whanau at the core and you will share those values and passion for the conservation that drives the team.

The Visitor Centre is seven day a week operation during the Great Walk season (October - May). You will be required to work occasional rostered weekend work and potentially public holidays to support the needs of our busy Visitor Centre.

Click here for the Role Description

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you:

• a strong background in customer service with experience in the tourism and/or retail sector, with demonstrated competence in delivering high quality customer experiences
• excellent interpersonal communication skills, ability to work collaboratively with others
• ability to lead, mentor and coach others, with effective conflict resolution skills
• be highly organised with attention to detail
• ability to manage competing priorities, balance planned and reactive work and adapt to challenging and complex situations
• outstanding written communication skills and the ability to clearly convey conservation messaging, product and safety information to our visitors
• interest in outdoor pursuits with a focus on recreational activities in the Fiordland area and knowledge/ interest in conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand
• technically competent with excellent computer skills and an ability to learn new systems.

Mō te tīma | About the team

We are diverse. Our Visitor Centre team is made up of a group of passionate, skilled and educated conservation and recreation professionals. People joke that we are a mini-United Nations - with many countries represented in our team. We have team members who have been here for as long as 18 years - to people who have started in the past six months. We care about our colleagues, love Fiordland, and have fun while delivering an important service for the public.

He aha ngā pāinga mōu? | What's in it for you?

DOC places importance on developing a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We're working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable and inclusive by default. You can learn more about what we offer here.

Tonoa inaiānei | Apply now

Apply online with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills, experience and motivation for joining Te Papa Atawhai. Please note, due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept direct or emailed applications and provide feedback to those not shortlisted.

If you require any accommodations or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

The salary range for this position is $68,878 to $87,265 with the starting salary of the successful applicant based on their relevant skills and experience.

Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory - this includes holding a valid work visa that covers the whole period of employment.

Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, 11 November.

Depending on the volume of applications received, we may close this advertisement early, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Graeme Davies, Principal Ranger, at

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