Lead skipper + ops manager - fiordland

We've spent years building an operation we're proud of - the systems, the reputation, the team. Now we need the right person to own it, lead it, and make it even better.

Fiordland Outdoors is a water taxi and transport operation based in Te Anau.

• night hikers, day walkers, hunters, anglers and visitors across Lake Te Anau and Milford Sound
• servicing the Kepler and Milford Tracks and dropping guests at remote, spectacular locations throughout Fiordland.

• and we're now looking for the leader to carry it forward.

We're looking for a Lead Skipper + Operations Manager to take ownership of our on-water operations: leading the skipper team, owning our health and safety and operational systems, and making sure every skipper on the water is set up to succeed.

This is a working leadership role with a genuinely great blend - time on the water operating vessels and connecting with guests, balanced with the leadership and systems work that keeps the operation running at its best. If you love being on the water but you're ready for more than just skippering, this is the role for you.

• Leading the skipper team day-to-day - briefing, supporting, holding to standard, and stepping in on the water when needed
• Owning our operational and health and safety systems - keeping the H&S Plan, MTOP, SOPs and knowledge base current, ensuring they're lived day-to-day, and driving continuous improvement
• Managing vessel allocation and rostering across the fleet
• Operating across our modern fleet and personally delivering the five-star standard our guests expect
• Coordinating with the Guest Experience team - keeping office and on-water operations seamlessly in sync

• The role: A genuine step-up - working leadership with real operational ownership and a direct line to the Directors
• The development: We're a systems-led, technology-enabled business - you'll be leading and improving those systems, not just following them. Real growth for someone who wants to develop as an operations leader
• The scope: For the right candidate, there's real room to grow - taking on broader responsibility across vessel and vehicle maintenance and readiness as the role develops around you
• The structure: Clear systems, documented processes and modern tools - you'll always know what good looks like
• The roster: 6 days on, 3 days off Oct to May - three days to explore and enjoy being somewhere most people only visit once. Some flexibility required at busy times
• The employment: Full-time permanent - year-round security with reduced hours over winter (June–September). We're open to extended leave over winter if that works better for you
• The wage: Competitive salary reflecting the seniority and responsibility of the role
• The place: Te Anau - Fiordland on your doorstep, every day
• The team: Values-driven, tight-knit, and genuinely passionate about Fiordland - the kind of team worth leading

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Skipper's Restricted Limits (SRL) certificate or equivalent
• 3–5 years' skippering experience, preferably on water taxi or passenger vessel operations
• Current First Aid Certificate and VHF Marine Radio Operator Certificate
• Demonstrated experience leading or managing a team
• Comfortable working within systems - you see structure as an enabler, not a constraint
• Calm under pressure, clear communicator, solutions-focused
• Legally entitled to work permanently in New Zealand

• Experience on lakes, fiords or coastal NZ waters
• Knowledge of Fiordland, Lake Te Anau and Milford Sound
• Experience with H&S systems, SOPs or operational documentation but full training is available
• Personal experience on the Fiordland Great Walks - you'll understand our guests' world instantly

Send your CV and a short cover letter to mark@fiordlandoutdoors.co.nz - tell us about your experience on the water, how you've led people, and what draws you to this kind of role.

For a chat about the role, feel free to call Mark Wallace on 021 220 9117.

www.fiordlandoutdoors.co.nz