Supervisor (Fixed Term)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Has Stewart Island / Rakiura been on your bucket list? Now is your opportunity to live, work, and play in this truly untouched part of Aotearoa.
• Are you a practical and process-driven people manager who is brilliant at logistics, excited by problem solving with the ability to think on your feet?
• Your opportunity to get a taste of Island life in this 6-month fixed term or secondment position.

Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata 

If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive 

Te Papa Atawhai, Department of Conservation (DOC) serves to protect and sustain nature across Aotearoa. We put nature and people at the heart of our mahi, guided by te reo Māori, te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We do this by:

• Protecting land, species, ecosystems, and cultural heritage for conservation purposes
• Managing threats and adverse impacts
• Being a voice for conservation
• Connecting people to nature

He angitūtanga | About the role

The work programme on Stewart Island / Rakiura has been expanding and the number of staff in the DOC team on the Island has increased, thus we are looking for an additional Supervisor to support the work programmes currently underway. You will work closely with the biodiversity team to deliver agreed work programmes and guide them through training, supervision, and administrative tasks. This role will have a key focus on supporting the biodiversity team but will also work across the Heritage and Visitor work programme with another two Supervisors. You will lead, coach, and inspire your team of Rangers by planning, assigning, monitoring, and reviewing work with your team while fostering a great working culture. This team is passionate about the work they do and has a culture of inclusiveness and support. You will share those values and passion for conservation.

Strong relationships with your team will help them deliver great conservation. This will require you to spend periods of time in the field with Rangers and most of your time delivering office-based tasks. Above all, the health, safety, and wellbeing of staff will be your highest priority.

You and your team will be responsible for a range of different work programs including:

• Nationally significant weed eradication projects
• Community-led conservation initiatives
• Threatened species recovery programmes
• Island biosecurity
• Working closely with community groups, volunteers, and iwi

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

You may be a developing leader looking for an opportunity or an experienced Supervisor looking to gain experience on an Island or with different work programmes. Most importantly you must be a practical and process-driven person who is brilliant at logistics, excited by problem solving with the ability to think on your feet! You must be a great team member with a proven ability to work collaboratively with others. This will help your team to develop and succeed in their own work.

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

• Commitment to excellence – sets high personal and professional standards; assumes responsibility and accountability for the success of the team
• Demonstrated capability to plan, monitor and report on work delivery
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A strong commitment to safety and wellbeing in the workplace
• Leadership of field teams, with experience in supervising, coaching, mentoring, and managing performance
• Technologically savvy and able to keep up with the changes in the digital space
• Full NZ driver license.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in biodiversity or environmental management with a particular focus on weeds
• Previous experience engaging and working in partnership with iwi and tangata whenua, as well as an understanding of the implications of te Tiriti o Waitangi on today's society and conservation

Most of all, you will be approachable, enjoy working as part of a team and have a 'can do attitude'.

Mō te tīma | About the team 

As part of the Rakiura Operations team, you will join a tight-knit crew, who genuinely enjoy working with each other, are passionate about the work they do, and believe they have an incredibly special backyard. 

Stewart Island / Rakiura is the southernmost and smallest island of the three main islands of Aotearoa / New Zealand. It's a 20-minute flight from Invercargill or a one-hour ferry ride from Bluff. Stewart Island is wild, beautiful, and offers a glimpse into a simpler, slower lifestyle, in rhythm with the sea and tides, attuned to the natural world of bush and beach. Roughly 85% of the island forms the wild and enchanting Rakiura National Park. 

The Rakiura community is a glimpse of old-fashioned Aotearoa, with strong values and the opportunity to be easily welcomed and integrated. You may spend your days off hunting, fishing, kayaking, tramping, running, diving or with photography – just some of the hobbies of the current team. 

You can get a good coffee, go for a beer, head to the gym, or leave the Island regularly. Check out some information about living on the Island here at www.stewartisland.co.nz.

DOC accommodation is available. We encourage you to get in touch to learn more about our team, our work, and what it's like living on Rakiura.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What's in it for you?

Te Papa Atawhai is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve, creating an inclusive workplace culture, supporting the relationship between Māori and the Crown, and lifting our cultural capability. We encourage our people to bring their authentic self and unique perspectives to work, in pursuit of our collective aspirations.

Tono ināianei | Apply now 

Apply online via the DOC Careers Centre with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills experience and motivation for joining Te Papa Atawhai.  

The salary range for this position is $77,336 to $97,708 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. 

Rā katinga | Applications close: at 5 pm on Thursday, 14 December 2023

Me he pātai anō | For further enquiries, contact Debbie Fahey, Senior Recruitment Advisor (dfahey@doc.govt.nz, 027 286 2746) or Jennifer Ross, Operations Manager (jross@doc.govt.nz)

Taupānga | Job reference: DOC/1764415