Navigation Safety Officer

• Are you a qualified Skipper seeking a fantastic summer job?
• Love being out on the water and have a strong interest in maritime safety?
• 30 hours per week, including alternate weekends, with on-call response

Our Harbours team is gearing up for a busy summer season on the water. We're seeking a qualified Skipper to join our friendly, professional team until March 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity to support the safety of our harbour, port and waterways.

About the role | Kō tēnei tūranga mahi

As a Navigation Safety Officer, you’ll spend a lot of time on the water, helping ensure the maritime safety of everyone who enjoys the water - from commercial operators to weekend boaties.

You'll:

• Support maritime safety in the Nelson region by engaging positively with and educating the public on safety issues.
• Undertake launch master duties and patrol work, including removal of navigation hazards.
• Undertake routine maintenance and safety checks.
• Respond effectively to emergency callouts.
• Follow our standard operating procedures and maintain logs and general administration.

No two days are the same - one day you might be clearing a hazard, the next helping with an urgent callout. It’s hands-on, practical, and meaningful work.

About you | Ko ngā pūmanawa ō

To excel in this role, you’ll:

• Be a qualified skipper (minimum MNZ Skipper Restricted Limits or equivalent) and have strong boat handling abilities and a sound understanding of navigation, meterology and engineering.
• Have excellent interpersonal and communications skills and enjoy interacting with the public to improve maritime safety.
• Have sound seamanship abilities, particularly with ropework.
• Be a good swimmer and confident around water.
• Have the ability to respond to emergency situations in a calm, efficient manner.
• Hold a full drivers licence with the ability to drive a manual vehicle and manoeuvre a trailer in a variety of conditions.
• Have good general computer skills.

Who we are | Ko mātou tēnei

We are Whakatū Nelson - a city where creativity, prosperity, and innovation thrive. Our vision is to foster a community that is inclusive, resilient, and deeply connected. We care for one another and for our pūahatanga harbour, creating a vibrant, safe, and supportive place for everyone.

What we offer | Ko ngā painga mōu

In return for your skills and experience, we offer a great working environment where you'll join a fun, supportive team and get to work outdoors in one of Aotearoa's most stunning harbours. As a team, we're passionate about maritime safety and genuinely care for the safety of our community and marine environment.

Some things to note:

• This is a part time role, working 30 hours per week on a roster basis until the end of March 2025.
• You will work alternate weekends and be on-call to respond to emergency events.
• As this is a safety sensitive role, pre-employment drug and alcohol testing applies.

Click here to view the job description.

Applications close: midnight on Sunday 23 November 2025.

We will be reviewing applications as we receive them, so don't delay, apply today!

For more information about the role itself please contact: Stuart Whitehouse on 03 5460284 or email [email protected]