Sales and Retail Assistant - Invercargill

Required for immediate start and working to at least April / May 2026.

• Your customer service and product knowledge will help our customers book tours and services and buy products with confidence.
• Your commitment to ensuring our customer’s journey is a quality experience helps to improve overall customer satisfaction.
• Your reliability, attention to detail, administration skills, time management and excellent communication skills will be essential to our tourism business.
• You will be a point of contact and support for staff carrying out tours and services.

Stewart Island / Rakiura.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience is a small nature tourism business, operating in Stewart Island since 2000 offering guided walks, bird watching, kiwi spotting tours, boat cruises, water taxi charters, along with operating a small outdoor shop in the booking office.

Nature, wildlife and the environment are our key focus and trying to operate sustainably. The business actively seeks to develop a positive team, with supportive, caring, reliable and competent staff, so that our customers get the best possible attention and service we can offer.

Work is mainly seasonal. Key tourist months are October through to April / May, with intermittent off-season tours.

DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES

The business is small, with many aspects and alot to learn.

• Attend trip familiarisation on our key trips.

• Learn about the products and services offered by the business. Attend some of our tours.
• Assess customer interests and abilities and provide accurate and appropriate information about options in order to sell our tours and services.
• Prepare accurate reservation information and communicate appropriately with customers.
• Process payment, maintain records.
• Obtain customer feedback.
• Brief Guides and Skipper (prepare and maintain accurate records).
• Assist guides when required: to organise food, gear & equipment for trips.
• Maintaining contact with staff conducting tours/trip.

• Provide accurate information about products for sale and hire.
• Assist / inform customers about the use of gear.
• Sell / hire stock, process payment, maintain accurate records.
• Clean returned hire stock.
• Restock items and help maintain displays.

• Assist with basic administration and marketing tasks.
• Help keep the office and shop clean and tidy.
• Carry out reasonable tasks to support the business.

HOURS OF WORK

Five days a week from 35 - 40 hours during September to May and 25-35 hours during June - August (for anyone wanting to remain longer than the contract period).

• Sales and retail experience preferably in the tourism/hospitality industry.
• Excellent customer services skills (friendly, outgoing with the ability to listen).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Hardworking, uses initiative.
• Fluent and accurate, spoken and written English.
• Ability to prioritise and multi-task.
• Accurate record keeping, with attention to detail.
• Good computer skills.
• Full NZ Driver’s Licence preferred.
• Current First Aid (valid for at least 12 months at start of employment).
• Must be punctual with good time keeping.

• An interest in the outdoors is an advantage.
• A good level of health and fitness is required in order to attend trip familiarisations.
• Personal presentation and hygiene are important in this front office role.
• Non-smokers preferred.
• Experience working in small - medium sized business and in small towns.

You must be eligible to work in New Zealand. We do not have resources to sponsor overseas applicants.

• Opportunity to learn - you will do and see more than in a larger business.
• Experience Stewart Island.
• Option to develop into other roles with more responsibilities subject to your skills and aptitude.
• Room in fully furnished staff accommodation (central, clean, comfortable, garden area) available to rent.