About the role

You will be part of a team based in either Twizel (TMAP) or Franz Josef (PFSW) tasked with protecting native taonga and restoring te taiao (nature) by removing invasive predators across mainland Aotearoa. You will undertake field-based conservation work in alpine and remote terrain.

Key responsibilities

  • Undertaking helicopter work including steep Alpine Terrain

  • Finding and clearing routes, navigating off track

  • Setting traps, handling toxins, loading equipment to and from vehicles including helicopters, and using both hand and power tools

  • Using mapping software systems to record activity and collect high quality data from the field site

  • Crossing rough terrain on foot, carrying a pack of up to 15 kg, often working alone for up to 8 hours a day, during all seasons, with exposure to wind, rain, sun and snow

  • Evaluating engineering prototypes

  • Humanely euthanising wild animals

  • Modifying predator traps

  • Maintaining field infrastructure

  • Travelling between sites and engaging with local communities to support conservation activities

About you

  • Willing and able to spend long hours working alone in rough terrain and challenging conditions

  • Able to stay onsite at times, comfortable sharing accommodation with a small team if required, and willing to contribute to cooking and cleaning duties

  • Experience and confidence in engaging with people and groups of various backgrounds

  • Good time management and initiative

  • Full NZ Drivers licence

Advantageous

  • Controlled Substance Licence

  • Firearms Licence

  • Previous live capture experience (or willingness to learn)

  • Ability with digital technology

  • GIS experience

About us

Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) is working to protect native taonga and restore te taiao (nature) by removing invasive predators across mainland Aotearoa. ZIP is adapting and refining elimination approaches to completely remove predators within the context of three landscape scale projects: Predator Free South Westland (PFSW), Te Manahuna Aoraki Project (TMAP) and Predator Free Rakiura (PFR).

Our culture prioritises people – our team, conservation partners and other stakeholders – as our number one priority. We are caring, connected, empowered and innovative, keeping people safe, delivering rapid prototypes and experimenting, communicating openly, creating accessible solutions that work well, investing strategically, and striving for continuous improvement.

How to apply

Apply via Seek.

All applicants must be eligible to work in New Zealand.

For more information, please email your questions to careers@zip.org.nz, providing your name and a contact phone number.