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• Apply your project coordination and relationship skills to manage visitor assets at some of the Central North Island's most iconic sites, including Tongariro National Park. Salary ranges from $65,070 to $75,981 depending on skills and experience Permanent, full-time role based in Whakapapa with accommodation negotiable. 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 How would you like to work within the oldest and most iconic National Park and surrounding dual status world heritage area in Aotearoa? Join Te Papa Atawhai to deliver conservation outcomes amongst the Tongariro National Park and District. As a Kaitiaki / Ranger (Heritage and Visitor), you’ll play a key operational role within our tight-knit Tongariro District team. You’ll help maintain the district’s visitor assets—including huts, tracks, structures, and campgrounds—while managing work packages using your technical, practical, and organisational skills. The position will be focussed on: Contract management, project management and coordination with budgets Construction, maintenance and risk management of facilities, sites and assets Liaising with external partners and stakeholders including community groups, Councils, iwi and the New Zealand Defence Force. We are passionate about developing our people, and will provide qualification training for specialised skills, including working at heights, chainsaw operation, helicopter safety, 4WD operation, and digger operation. This role includes the potential for accommodation, dependent on requirements. Click here for the Role Description Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience To be successful in this role, you’ll bring a combination of practical capability, strong coordination skills, and a passion for conserving Aotearoa’s natural and cultural heritage. If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you: Strong project management, task prioritisation, and coordination capabilities Contractor management and financial/budgeting experience Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to guide and support others A solid understanding of health and safety processes Good computer literacy Physical fitness and emotional intelligence Experience working with iwi and other external partners Ability to work in remote back-country settings, including 7–10 overnight stays per year A full New Zealand driver licence Desirable: Carpentry, construction, or other practical trade skills Experience using machinery such as excavators, scrub bars, or chainsaws Experience with SAP GIS knowledge Mō te tīma | About the team The Regional Operations Group is responsible for delivering conservation work on the ground through our biodiversity, recreation/historic, community engagement and visitor centre teams. The Central North Island team are a big whanau that place a strong emphasis on looking after one another. The team are very active, value social connection, and are very passionate about their purpose to look out for the maunga and whenua. 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 $65,070 to $75,981 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being 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. Due to high volumes, we are not engaging with recruitment agencies for this role. Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday 12th January 2025. Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Mark Judd, Supervisor Heritage and Visitor at mjudd@doc.govt.nz (Please note, the DOC offices will be closed over the Christmas and NY break, reopening on the 5th of January 2026) Please note that we have replaced our previous recruitment system with Workday, you will need to create a new Candidate Home account when applying for new roles. The Department of Conservation is a great place to work for anyone who is passionate about nature and the environment. Our people are responsible for caring for our land, water and native species. Spread throughout the country, they ensure that nature can thrive. They perform a huge range of tasks in roles from technical specialists to support staff and frontline rangers. Read more about Our role: About us