The Southern Ruahine Kiwi (SRK) project seeks a Fieldwork Coordinator for a 24-hour/week role in Palmerston North, initially fixed till June 30th, 2027. The position focuses on leading the Southern Ruahine Kiwi’s fieldwork team to implement the SRK Pest Management Plan so taonga species can return to the Southern Ruahine Ranges.
Responsibilities include team scheduling and management, volunteer and contractor coordination, landowner engagement, and predator control and monitoring fieldwork. Ideal candidates should have experience in managing staff, contractors and volunteers, pest control fieldwork, solid bush skills and physical fitness, and a passion for protecting and enhancing biodiversity.
Southern Ruahine Kiwi’s Vision
The vision and mission of Southern Ruahine Kiwi (SRK) plays a critical role in the restoration and enhancement of native biodiversity along the eastern spine of the North Island by connecting our mahi in the central North Island’s Ruahine Ranges to mahi from the Kaweka to the Raukumara Ranges in the far northeast, and to mahi from the Tararua to the Makara Ranges in the south.
SRK’s primary mahi is predator control, environmental monitoring, data management and public engagement. This supports recovery of existing biodiversity; reintroduction and nurturing of kiwi and other species that have become extinct over the last two centuries; and growth of our collective appreciation of the Ruahine.
SRK’s current focus is on removal of mustelids to secure an un-fenced sanctuary in the southern Ruahine Forest Park and its surroundings where NI Eastern Brown Kiwi can be re-introduced and thrive, ultimately supporting a new population of up to 500 kiwi pairs.
Purpose of the Position
This position will ensure that the SRK Fieldwork teams are resourced and managed to deliver the SRK Pest Management and Environmental Monitoring Plans.
Responsibilities
This position requires working alongside and cooperating with paid staff, contractors and volunteers of Southern Ruahine Kiwi and its partners.
This role will cover a range of coordination/activation responsibilities, including:
- working with the SRK Project Lead (PL) and formal SRK Collaborators in developing and evolving implementation schedules for the Pest Management (PM) and Environmental Monitoring (EM) Plans including fieldwork, field equipment, and supplies,
- continued activation of landowner support, including negotiation of access agreements,
- coordinating the implementation schedule with project partners, contractors, community volunteers and landowners to deliver the PM & EM plans,
- liaising with PL on negotiation and monitoring of work contracts and performance agreements,
- recruiting, training, and scheduling community fieldworkers,
- ensuring that trapping and monitoring data meets the requirements of the PM & EM Plans,
- assessing the trapping and monitoring data,
- proactively resolving field equipment issues and working closely with collaborators as needed,
- working with the PL to ensure the PM & EM Plans evolve to meet the SRK project’s vision,
- trapping, predator control and monitoring fieldwork.
Personal Profile
The Fieldwork Coordinator will have:
- confidence in developing positive relationships with participating iwi/hapū, landowners, Horizons staff, DOC staff and other stakeholders as required,
- experience in trapping for predator control, solid bush skills and physical fitness,
- experience in planning and deploying traplines and other field equipment,
- good knowledge of the Southern Ruahine,
- skills in GIS mapping, data management and project planning,
- experience in recruiting and training trappers,
- skills to schedule servicing of multiple traplines and environmental monitoring lines.
- skills in monitoring and field-data recording techniques, including the use of trail cameras, acoustic recorders, and use of "TrapNZ" App,
- experience with tracking tunnels, chew cards, 5-minute bird counts an advantage but not essential,
- solid Health and Safety skills,
- a First Aid Certificate,
- a full driver's license,
- ability to think strategically, apply analytical thinking and demonstrate good communication skills, and
- initiative, self-motivation and flexibility with a willingness to learn and adapt.
Lead the Southern Ruahine Kiwi’s fieldwork team to implement the Pest Management Plan so tāonga species can return to the Southern Ruahine Ranges. 24-hour/week role, initially fixed till June 30th, 2027.
Please read the full job description on the website.
We are only accepting applications from New Zealand
If you are interested, please send your cover letter and CV to admin@enm.org.nz
Applications close 19th April
