Supervisor OperationsDepartment of Conservation (DOC) • Tūrangi, Waikato, New Zealand

Supervisor Operations

Department of Conservation (DOC) • Tūrangi, Waikato, New Zealand

1 day ago

Job description

Join to apply for the Supervisor Operations role at Department of Conservation (DOC)

1 week ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Do you love the outdoors and feel called to restore the natural integrity of our whenua while supporting kaupapa Māori?
Apply your leadership and field skills to deliver meaningful outcomes for people and nature.
Salary ranges from $68,878 to $87,265 based on skills and experience.
Permanent, full-time position | Tūrangi location preferred but may consider other locations for the right candidate.

Our vision

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

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

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

About the role

Ngā Whenua Rāhui are looking for a motivated and knowledgeable conservation professional to help protect and enhance indigenous biodiversity on privately owned Māori land.

In this role, you’ll oversee a team of external contractors, build and strengthen relationships with Māori landowners, whānau, hapū, and iwi, and deliver biodiversity outcomes through pest management and landowner support.

The position will be focussed on :

Preparing and managing contracts

Installing and maintaining predator trapping networks

Monitoring pest populations and native biodiversity using a range of tools

Collaborating with partners and stakeholders to achieve conservation goals

Collecting and managing data for reporting and planning

Contributing to annual and site‐specific work plans

This role involves travel, so you must be flexible to travel and work away from home as needed.

Skills and experience

If you’re passionate about restoring the health of our whenua and supporting Māori-led conservation, we’d love to hear from you.

We are looking for the following :

Leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, support, and guide others in the field.

Strong understanding of tikanga and kawa when engaging with Māori landowners, whānau, hapū, and iwi.

Proven experience managing contractors and coordinating field operations.

Excellent health and safety awareness.

Physical fitness and ability to work in rugged, remote environments for extended periods.

Full, clean New Zealand driver’s licence.

Ability to work independently in the field and collaboratively with a wider team.

Ideally, you’ll also bring :

Experience in animal pest and weed management, including monitoring of pest and threatened species.

Practical field experience and familiarity with conservation operations.

A current First Aid Certificate.

Confidence using power tools (e.g. chainsaws, scrub-bars).

Ability to interpret GIS data, produce maps, and use GPS / data logging equipment.

Comfort working in backcountry, remote locations.

Experience using safety and navigation equipment.

The ability to speak and understand Te Reo Māori.

About the team

Ngā Whenua Rāhui serves to encourage the voluntary protection of indigenous biodiversity on Māori owned land with special emphasis to recognise the cultural and spiritual values of those lands, while recognising the rights guaranteed to Māori Landowners under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

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.

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.

The salary range for this position is $68,878 to $87,265 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.

Applications close

Applications close at 11 : 59 pm on Sunday 23 November 2025.

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

For further enquiries

Please contact Brendan Bulliff, Team Lead Regional Operations at

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Supervisor • Tūrangi, Waikato, New Zealand