Current
Vacancies

Do you want to help secure the protection of our unique natural and cultural heritage on private land for the benefit of all New Zealanders?

QEII National Trust is looking for an independent contractor to act as our regional representative in the Central Otago region. The contract is for up to 800 hours per year and will cover the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Council areas and western edges of the Clutha and Waitaki District Council areas.

Regional representatives (reps) work closely with landowners to achieve protection of native biodiversity, landscape, and other special values on private land, provide valuable ecological and land management advice and support, and assist landowners in meeting their covenant stewardship obligations. This work involves field-based assessments of the values and threats present and preparing information for consideration by the executive. Reps also work closely with our ecological and legal advisors in the Wellington office.

A sound ecological understanding of Central Otago ecosystems, indigenous flora, fauna, and the threats and pressures they face is desirable. Alongside, a proven ability to build lasting partnerships across multiple sectors (including with regional councils, territorial authorities, iwi, and local community groups), comfort accessing and working alone in remote backcountry areas is necessary. Experience working with landowners and applying practical and resourceful land management solutions would be an advantage.

The successful Central Otago applicant would be engaged as an independent contractor for up to 800 hours per year. The successful applicant would supply a home/office set-up and suitable vehicle with mileage reimbursed based on the IRD rate. A candidate living within the Central Otago region is strongly preferred.

Our mission is to support and inspire people to protect and enhance special places, creating a network of thriving natural landscapes with communities closely connected to them. Almost 70% of New Zealand is in private ownership, so protecting biodiversity and heritage on private land is critical to reversing the decline of indigenous biodiversity and preserving our history.

We are an independent statutory organisation and a registered charity that partners with private landowners to protect sites on their land with covenants. A covenant is an agreement between QEII and a landowner to protect land forever. The landowner continues to own and manage the protected land, and the covenant and protection stays on the land, even when the property is sold to a new owner.

Our partnerships have created a growing network of over 5,300 protected areas throughout Aotearoa. These covenants protect more than 190,000 ha of private land and play a key role as a refuge for some of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered biodiversity and ecosystems.

If this contracting opportunity sounds like you, we would love to hear from you! To apply please send your cover letter and CV to contracting@qeii.org.nz by 9 am Monday 18 May 2026.

You must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand to apply.

The services and requirements of the contract are available here.

If you have any questions or for more information on the position, please email contracting@qeii.org.nz.

• An opportunity to contribute to conservation on private land in Aotearoa
• Work with a variety of ecosystem types and landscapes throughout Aotearoa
• Social, friendly, vibrant work environment

Use your ecological experience to help grow Aotearoa’s private land conservation network.

We have an excellent opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic land protection (ecological) advisor to join our Wellington head office team. Land Protection Advisors work closely with and support our regional representatives, adding to and enhancing the network of protected areas across Aotearoa. In addition to your ability to provide robust ecological and practical land management advice, you’ll also be comfortable managing your own workflow and ensuring that timeframes are met. Strong communication, relationship building, and interpersonal skills are key to this role.

This is a permanent, full-time position based in our Wellington office.

About the role

QEII open space covenants legally protect approximately 190,000 hectares of private land and play a key role as a refuge for some of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered biodiversity and ecosystems. Land Protection Advisors, together with our regional representatives (who are based around Aotearoa), progress new covenant proposals, and assist with oversight of monitoring and management of registered covenants.

Land Protection Advisors each support and enable a small group of regional representatives. Advisors contribute to and peer review covenant proposal and management work, providing an exciting opportunity to learn about different ecosystem types and apply critical thinking skills in a variety of situations. This includes a critical ecological/open space analysis of areas proposed to be protected, management actions required and providing a recommendation to QEII’s executive. Advisors also work closely with our legal team, providing ecological advice to help resolve covenant management issues as they arise.

Because we are a small, collaborative organisation, advisors play a key role in the success of QEII and are actively involved in a variety of other work streams. These include assisting with covenant administration, our external communications (e.g., Open Space magazine articles and annual report), assessing funding applications to our annual contestable fund, involvement in externally funded projects, providing content for QEII submissions, preparing and presenting board papers, and responding to external stakeholder enquiries.

Our mission is to support and inspire people to protect and enhance special places, creating a network of thriving natural landscapes with communities closely connected to them. We are an independent charitable trust that partners with private landowners to protect sites on their land with covenants. Almost 70% of New Zealand is in private land ownership, so protecting biodiversity and heritage on private land is critical to reversing the decline of indigenous biodiversity and preserving our history.

A covenant is an agreement between us and a landowner to protect land forever. The landowner continues to own and manage the protected land, and the covenant and protection stays on the land, even when the property is sold to a new owner.

You can learn more about us at our website https://qeiinationaltrust.org.nz/

Salary range: $69,000-$79,000 depending on qualifications and experience.

A few benefits of working at QEII:

• Three additional (QEII holidays) leave days over the annual closedown period
• $250 wellness allowance every year
• A social, friendly, and vibrant work environment

If this role sounds like you, we would love to hear from you! To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to careers@qeii.org.nz by 9am on Monday 27 July 2026.

If you have any questions, please email careers@qeii.org.nz

You must be legally entitled to work in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply. The full position description is available at https://bit.ly/4f0FZow

QEII National Trust is looking for an independent contractor to act as our regional representative in the South Canterbury region. The contract is for up to 900 hours per year and will cover the Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie district council areas.

Regional representatives (reps) work closely with landowners to achieve protection of native biodiversity and other special values on private land, provide valuable ecological management advice and support, and assist landowners in meeting their covenant stewardship obligations. This work involves field-based assessments of the values and threats present and preparing information for consideration by the executive. Reps also work closely with our ecological and legal advisors in the Wellington office.   

A sound ecological understanding of our indigenous flora, fauna, and the threats they face within Canterbury is desirable. Alongside, a proven ability to build lasting partnerships across multiple sectors (including with regional councils, territorial authorities, iwi, and local community groups), comfort accessing and working in remote backcountry areas is necessary. Experience working with landowners and applying practical and resourceful land management solutions would be an advantage.  

The successful South Canterbury applicant would be engaged as an independent contractor for up to 900 hours per year. The successful applicant would supply a home/office set-up and suitable vehicle with mileage reimbursed based on the IRD rate.  

Our mission is to inspire private landowners to protect and enhance areas of ecological and cultural significance on their land. Almost 70% of New Zealand is in private ownership, so protecting biodiversity and heritage on private land is critical to reversing the decline of indigenous biodiversity and preserving our history.  

We are an independent charitable organisation that partners with private landowners to protect sites on their land with covenants. A covenant is an agreement between QEII and a landowner to protect land forever. The landowner continues to own and manage the protected land, and the covenant and protection stays on the land, even when the property is sold to a new owner.  

Our partnerships have created a growing network of over 5,000 protected areas throughout Aotearoa. These covenants protect more than 190,000 ha of private land and play a key role as a refuge for some of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered biodiversity and ecosystems.  

If this contracting opportunity sounds like you, we would love to hear from you! To apply, please send your cover letter and CV to contracting@qeii.org.nz by 9:00am Monday 14 April 2025.   

You must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand to apply. 

The services and requirements of the contract are available here. If you have any questions or for more information on the position, please email contracting@qeii.org.nz.   

Operational Services Administrators are involved in a variety of administration tasks working alongside a range of teams within QEII. This position could suit either an experienced administrator or an early career administrator wanting the opportunity to grow and develop your administration skills in a supportive and friendly environment.

Our Administrators primarily provide day-to-day administrative support for our regional representatives including processing invoices and timesheets, undertaking performance tracking, forecasting, reporting against contracted activities and assisting in management of their contracts.

Administrators work with our Finance and Business Services team to provide support services including ordering office supplies, booking travel, event planning and coordination, and processing payments in the finance system.

Administrators also provide project support on QEII led conservation projects, such as external funding projects, and liaise with contractors, report on milestones, undertake document reviews and create, improve and implement processes to ensure projects are successful.

This fixed term position is to cover parental leave for one of our fantastic members of staff and will run through until December 2023.

This role is based in Wellington, and reports to the Team Leader for Operational Services. You will work primarily alongside another administration role and a coordinator role, responsible for delivering operational support for the organisation.

• Engage with contractors to ensure conservation project outcomes are achieved.
• Provide regular monitoring and reporting in a timely manner.
• Support and improve operational and administrative processes across the organisation to make tasks faster, better and easier for our staff and contractors.
• Undertake administration support which may include invoicing, minute taking, data entry and database updates and support with regional events.
• Assist with processing accounts payable.
• Provide office management support such as booking travel, accommodation and ordering items.

• Strong customer service ethos and excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
• The ability to work closely in a team and be equally comfortable working by yourself.
• An interest in protecting Aotearoa’s natural and cultural heritage.
• Ability to work with a variety of people.
• A passion for process improvements and attention to detail.
• Expertise using Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft products.
• Any qualifications and/or experience in a similar role/environment.

• Flexible working arrangements
• Up to three additional (QEII holidays) leave days over the annual closedown period
• $250 wellness allowance every year
• A social, friendly and vibrant work environment with regular staff wellness and social activities
• Opportunity to work within a small team on a variety of tasks

You must be legally entitled to work in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply. The full position description is available here.  For more information, please contact us via careers@qeii.org.nz.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to careers@qeii.org.nz by 1pm on Monday 7 November 2022.

Note: Your cover letter is an essential part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience and skills relate to the key requirements for this role.

• Parental leave cover – fixed term (until July 2027), full time position in Wellington
• A social, friendly, and vibrant work environment
• An opportunity to contribute to conservation in Aotearoa

Use your experience in administration to help support conservation outcomes on private land across the motu.

We have a fixed term opportunity for a details-focused and enthusiastic administrator to join our Wellington head office team. The Operational Services Administrator works closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders to provide robust operational and financial support for the organisation. In addition to your ability to support others, you will also be responsible for contributing to process improvements, be comfortable managing your own workflow and ensuring that timeframes are met. An eye for detail, strong communication, and interpersonal skills are key to this role.

This is a fixed term (until July 2027), full-time position based in our Wellington office.

About the role

The Operational Services Administrator will be involved in a variety of administration tasks working alongside a range of teams within QEII. The role will give you an opportunity to grow and develop your administration skills in a supportive and friendly environment.

The administrator will provide administrative support to head office and our regional representatives including processing invoices, monitoring and reporting on deliverables and assisting in contract management. They will be responsible for office orders, travel bookings, event planning and assistance, data entry and other accounts payable functions.

They will also provide project support by liaising with contractors, undertaking documentation review, and contributing to process improvements in a collaborative manner. Because we are a small, collaborative organisation, the administrator will be a part of a team alongside a finance coordinator and a project coordinator role, responsible for delivering operational support across the organisation.

Our mission is to support and inspire people to protect and enhance special places, creating a network of thriving natural landscapes with communities closely connected to them. We are an independent charitable trust that partners with private landowners to protect sites on their land with covenants. Almost 70% of New Zealand is in private land ownership, so protecting biodiversity and heritage on private land is critical to reversing the decline of indigenous biodiversity and preserving our history.

A covenant is an agreement between us and a landowner to protect land forever. The landowner continues to own and manage the protected land, and the covenant and protection stays on the land, even when the property is sold to a new owner.

We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive workplace culture.

You can learn more about us at our website https://qeiinationaltrust.org.nz/

Salary range: $60,000 – $72,000 depending on qualifications and experience.

A few benefits of working at QEII:

• Three additional (QEII holidays) leave days over the annual closedown period
• $250 wellness allowance every year
• A social, friendly, and vibrant work environment

If this role sounds like you, we would love to hear from you! To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to careers@qeii.org.nz by 9am on Wednesday 22 July 2026.

If you have any questions, please email careers@qeii.org.nz

You must be legally entitled to work in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply. The full position description is available at https://bit.ly/3Red88r

Note: Your cover letter is an essential part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience and skills relate to the key requirements for this role.

Operational Services Administrators are involved in a variety of administration tasks working alongside a range of teams within QEII. This position could suit either an experienced administrator or an early career administrator wanting the opportunity to grow and develop your administration skills in a supportive and friendly environment.

Our Administrators primarily provide day-to-day administrative support for our regional representatives including processing invoices and timesheets, undertaking performance tracking, forecasting, reporting against contracted activities and assisting in management of their contracts.

Administrators work with our Finance and Business Services team to provide support services including ordering office supplies, booking travel, event planning and coordination, and processing payments in the finance system.

Administrators also provide project support on QEII led conservation projects, such as external funding projects, and liaise with contractors, report on milestones, undertake document reviews and create, improve and implement processes to ensure projects are successful.

This fixed term position is to cover parental leave for one of our fantastic members of staff and will run through until December 2023.

This role is based in Wellington, and reports to the Team Leader for Operational Services. You will work primarily alongside another administration role and a coordinator role, responsible for delivering operational support for the organisation.

• Engage with contractors to ensure conservation project outcomes are achieved.
• Provide regular monitoring and reporting in a timely manner.
• Support and improve operational and administrative processes across the organisation to make tasks faster, better and easier for our staff and contractors.
• Undertake administration support which may include invoicing, minute taking, data entry and database updates and support with regional events.
• Assist with processing accounts payable.
• Provide office management support such as booking travel, accommodation and ordering items.

• Strong customer service ethos and excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
• The ability to work closely in a team and be equally comfortable working by yourself.
• An interest in protecting Aotearoa’s natural and cultural heritage.
• Ability to work with a variety of people.
• A passion for process improvements and attention to detail.
• Expertise using Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft products.
• Any qualifications and/or experience in a similar role/environment.

• Flexible working arrangements
• Up to three additional (QEII holidays) leave days over the annual closedown period
• $250 wellness allowance every year
• A social, friendly and vibrant work environment with regular staff wellness and social activities
• Opportunity to work within a small team on a variety of tasks

You must be legally entitled to work in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply. The full position description is available here.  For more information, please contact us via careers@qeii.org.nz.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to careers@qeii.org.nz by 1pm on Monday 7 November 2022.

Note: Your cover letter is an essential part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience and skills relate to the key requirements for this role.

The Land Protection Team is responsible for deployment of QEII’s regional field representatives and supports them to help achieve QEII’s strategic objectives. The team is made up of Land Protection (Ecologists), Operational Services, Policy, and Legal.

This role is one of three Team Leaders responsible for our three regional hubs (North, Central and South), with each hub consisting of two head office Land Protection (Ecology) Advisors and 10-12 regional representatives.

A key focus of this role is to create a positive team culture and support staff growth and development. It involves delegation and oversight of ecological advice and responsibility for delivery of specific strategic projects. This sits alongside management of regional representative contracts, including contract development and oversight of annual deliverables.

The Land Protection Team works collaboratively with the regional representatives, providing ecological advice and support. Together they progress new open space covenant proposals that add to the network of protected areas across Aotearoa. The Team works on a variety of proposals, providing an exciting opportunity to engage with different ecosystem types and apply critical thinking skills in a variety of situations. Land Protection Team leaders provide oversight and advice on complex land management issues, overseeing policy and process improvements.

Each Land Protection Team Leader is also responsible for ensuring that their team works effectively within the wider Land Protection Team alongside Operational Services, Policy, and Legal, as well as collaborating with the wider organisation on a range of other projects and workstreams, such as Communications, and Financial and Business Services.

About us

Our mission is to inspire private landowners to protect and enhance areas of ecological and cultural significance on their land. Almost 70% of New Zealand is in private ownership, so protecting biodiversity and heritage on private land is critical to reversing the decline of indigenous biodiversity and preserving our history.

We are an independent charitable organisation that partners with private landowners to protect sites on their land with covenants. A covenant is an agreement between QEII and a landowner to protect land forever. The landowner continues to own and manage the protected land, and the covenant and protection stays on the land, even when the property is sold to a new owner.

Our partnerships have created a growing network of over 5,000 protected areas throughout Aotearoa. These covenants protect more than 190,000 ha of private land and play a key role as a refuge for some of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered biodiversity and ecosystems.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a relevant tertiary qualification and at least 5 years’ relevant experience
• Has the ability to motivate, mentor and develop staff to help them deliver to their potential
• Has proven relationship management skills
• Has extensive ecological experience
• Has a high level of integrity
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills

Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory.

Salary range: $100,000 – $120,000 depending on skills and experience

A few benefits of working at QEII:

• Up to three additional leave days a year during the summer holiday shut down
• Wellness allowance of $250 a year per employee
• Flexible working – we provide the tools to support work/life balance and flexible work arrangements whenever possible
• Parental leave ex-gratia payment
• A social, friendly, and vibrant work environment
• The opportunity to travel to see QEII’s work ‘on the ground’

You must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand to apply. The full position description is available at https://bit.ly/LandProtectionTL.  For more information, please contact us via careers@qeii.org.nz.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to careers@qeii.org.nz. by 3pm on Monday 5 December 2022.

Note: Your cover letter is a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role.