Job Description
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
Key selling points:
- Do you have excellent relationship management skills and a desire to work in one of the most remote and spectacular places in New Zealand?
- Join us in an exciting role leading the protection of the nationally critical Tōrea tai / Chatham Island oystercatcher for the 2025-26 breeding season
- Salary range $68,535 to $85,423 depending on skills and experience
- Fulltime, 6-9 month fixed term opportunity, based on the Chatham Islands (accommodation provided).
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
This role is a unique mix of strategic planning and field-based management / monitoring. It's a great opportunity for someone wanting to further their development in the management of critically threatened species.
Overall the role will be responsible for leading the protection of the Chatham Island oystercatcher over the 2025/26 breeding season.
In particular, the successful applicant will:
- Produce a workplan to deliver the Chatham Island oystercatcher 2025/26 breeding season programme
- Roll out a landscape-scale predator trapping network to increase the land area under sustained predator control
- Complete pre-breeding and post-breeding roll-call surveys on Chatham and Pitt islands
- Deliver a full oystercatcher population census on Chatham Island
- Develop and maintain relationships with landowners to obtain access permission
- Undertake nest monitoring and productivity monitoring throughout the season
- Relocate oystercatcher nests away from inundation zones when necessary
- Develop an oystercatcher protection regime for the Pitt Island population
- Contribute to the development or implementation of HPAI preparedness and response plans
- Organise an end of season debrief and produce a summary report
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you:
- Excellent relationship management skills
- LUV competency
- 4WD competency
- First Aid Certificate
- Experience using trail cameras
- Data collection expertise
Desirable:
- Firearms licence
- Experience using a range of both live capture and kills traps
- Contractor management experience
- GPS navigational competency
- Oyster catcher or wader banding experience
Even if you don't tick all the boxes but believe your skills and experience closely align, then we still encourage you to apply.
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 throughout the recruitment process, please do let us know.
The salary range for this position is $68,535 to $85,423 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being based on their relevant skills and experience.
The Chathams Wairarapa Team covers the cost of your flights within New Zealand and return flights to the Chatham Islands.
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 14 August 2025. Depending on the volume of applications we received, we may close this advertisement early, so please submit your applications as soon as possible.
Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, contact Briggs Pilkington on bpilkington@doc.govt.nz
Te tohutoro tūranga | Job reference: DOC/05820/1