Principal Ranger | Tūtei Mātāmua

• Influential, people leader role contributing to Conservation outcomes for Tairāwhiti

• Permanent role | Salary range - $92,912 - $117,570

• Work and play in sunny Gisborne leading a fantastic team of rangers across biodiversity, visitor & heritage, community and tiriti functions

Lead the way in conservation — a newly created role guiding district operations and empowering teams across Aotearoa

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 Department of Conservation have recently made some big changes to help our people and operations work better together—so we can achieve the conservation outcomes we’re aiming for.

As part of this, we’ve introduced a new role: Principal Ranger. Reporting to the Operations Manager, this position is all about leading district-based operations teams and supporting them to deliver priority work programmes effectively.

The position will be focussed on:

• Recruiting and onboarding staff and building a positive and collaborative team environment

• Planning, scheduling and assigning work, ensuring tasks are delivered within timelines and budget

• Being part of the District Leadership Team and contributing to decisions around resources and priorities

• Understanding and respecting the importance of the work for Māori/ iwi, fostering positive working relationships to reach mutually beneficial outcomes

• Managing budgets and financials; tracking outputs, outcomes, and risks

• Collaborate across internal teams and with our community partners

• Lead by example by building strong relationships and consistently acting with integrity in everything you do

Click here for the Role Description

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

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

• an experienced people leader who is skilled at empowering, motivating, and creating a positive team culture

• strong financial and resource management skills

• comfortable in operational field delivery

• A strong and proactive communicator and collaborator, you build strong internal and external relationships with ease

• project and contract management experience

• ability to work alongside whānau, hapū, iwi collaboratively and effectively, as well as the community, businesses, and others.

Our Values

At The Department of Conservation, everyone’s journey is unique. Every purpose, personal. That’s why we believe your career should be more than a role… it should be a path that reflects who you are, what you value, and the difference you want to make.

Here, you’ll find more than a workplace. You’ll find a team united and guided by values that matter:

• Integrity, because trust and honesty are non-negotiable

• Empowerment, because when we lift each other, we all rise higher

• Connection, because collaboration sparks progress

• Achievement, because results mean more when they create real impact

This is a place where nature thrives because people do.

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 $92,912 - $117,570 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 Thursday 19th February

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Leeza Young, Senior Recruitment Advisor, [email protected]