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Make a real impact supporting native plant restoration in Canterbury. Use your admin strengths in a role that directly contributes to conservation. Join a passionate, supportive team of native plant enthusiasts. Enjoy varied work combining customer service, coordination, and light nursery tasks. The salary range for this position is $60,703 to $66,911. Full-time permanent role based at our Motukarara Nursery, Christchurch. 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 Motukarara Nursery plays a vital role in restoring Canterbury’s native plant biodiversity. As a Ranger based at our nursery, you’ll be part of a small, passionate team committed to protecting and enhancing the region’s flora. This position is primarily office-based and is key to ensuring smooth nursery operations and an exceptional experience for our customers and community. You’ll be the first point of contact for many of our clients and will take the lead on a range of administrative and customer-facing tasks that keep the nursery running efficiently. In this role, you will: • Respond to telephone and email enquiries • Allocate stock and confirm plant orders for customers • Provide friendly, professional customer service • Support plant sales and maintain strong customer relationships • Track stock and sales using our nursery database • Complete accurate and timely data entry • Provide basic advice on planting and native species • Prepare plant orders for collection and coordinate dispatch • Contribute to growing and maintaining our customer base • Support general nursery tasks as required Click here for the Role Description Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience If you have the following skills and attributes, we are keen to hear from you: • An understanding of conservation and its importance to Aotearoa’s future • Strong communication skills and the ability to work well within a team • Demonstrated administrative experience • A commitment to delivering great customer experiences • Sound problem-solving abilities and good numeracy skills • A full New Zealand driver’s licence • A good level of physical fitness • Experience or knowledge of nursery operations • Understanding of eco-sourcing principles and ecological districts • Confidence identifying or working with native plants • Marketing or customer engagement experience • Knowledge and understanding of tikanga Māori and te ao Māori • A current First Aid Certificate 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 $60,703 to $66,911 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 whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday 11 January 2026. Depending on the volume of applications received, we may close this advertisement early, so please submit your application as soon as possible. Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Jess Ward on jesward@doc.govt.nz or 027 308 2313 Please note that we have replaced our previous recruitment system with Workday, you will need to create a new Candidate Home account when applying for new roles. The Department of Conservation is a great place to work for anyone who is passionate about nature and the environment. Our people are responsible for caring for our land, water and native species. Spread throughout the country, they ensure that nature can thrive. They perform a huge range of tasks in roles from technical specialists to support staff and frontline rangers. Read more about Our role: About us