A field officer working in Kosciuszko National Park, a rafting instructor at Penrith Whitewater Stadium and an on-call firefighter in Raymond Terrace have very different working days. This shortlist brings together 14 current NSW Government roles connected with outdoor work, sport and environmental protection, so you can compare the setting and commitment before starting an application.
There are ongoing ranger and field roles, environmental positions with a mix of fieldwork and office duties, and a paid Outdoor Leadership traineeship. The Team Leader Field Operations position in Oberon adds an option for experienced supervisors, while the Alstonville threatened-species role offers 17.5 hours a week. Casual and on-call work have their own pay arrangements, which are shown separately in each card.
Applications close between 18 October and 29 November 2026, with most deadlines in October. Start with the locations and essential conditions, then open the individual application checklist for the roles that fit. Each guide explains the documents, written responses and experience to prepare.
In this guide
- Ranger (Vaucluse)
- Senior Field Officer (Lachlan Valley National Park, Hunthawang precinct, 30km north of Hillston)
- Regional Conservation Officer – BCT (Port Macquarie preferred; Coffs Harbour negotiable, subject to availability)
- Assistant Project Off Threatened Species (Alstonville; hybrid arrangements supported)
- Field Operations Officer (Dubbo)
- Senior Regional Conservation Officer (Cobar or Bourke; hybrid arrangements supported)
- Ranger (Cobar)
- Team Leader Field Operations (Oberon)
- Field Officer Grade 1-4 (Creel Bay, near Jindabyne)
- Ranger Travelling Stock Reserves (Tenterfield; other Northern Tablelands locations may be considered)
- Activities Instructor -Casual (Penrith Whitewater Stadium)
- Trainee – Sport Program Delivery – Sydney Academy (Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen)
- On-Call Firefighter – MN3 – 432 Raymond Terrace (Raymond Terrace Fire Station)
- On-Call Firefighter – MS3 – 079 Ingleburn (079 Ingleburn Fire Station)
Choose the working day you want
For hands-on maintenance and conservation, compare the Creel Bay Field Officer, Hillston Senior Field Officer and Tenterfield Travelling Stock Reserves Ranger. Their settings differ, and the Hillston position adds responsibility for field officers and contractors. Read the licence and equipment requirements together with the duties, particularly where a credential can be obtained after commencement.
The North Coast and western NSW conservation positions combine ecological work with landholder relationships. The EPA vacancy in Dubbo centres on environmental regulation and compliance. These roles suit different kinds of professional experience, even though all contribute to environmental outcomes.
For sport, compare the Narrabeen traineeship with the Penrith casual instructor role. The traineeship offers a structured learning pathway, while the instructor position asks you to check specific paddlesports qualifications or training conditions. For Raymond Terrace and Ingleburn on-call firefighting, proximity to the station and your availability are central. Ingleburn specifically asks for long-term daytime availability seven days a week.
Compare the current roles
Ranger
Sydney Harbour parkland needs day-to-day conservation work as well as careful decisions about visitors and heritage. This Vaucluse ranger position combines environmental assessments and stakeholder liaison with pest, weed and fire management. It offers a mix of field duties and written work over a 13-month appointment, with degree, driving and firefighting conditions to check before applying.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter expressing interest and suitability.
What to highlight
Natural land management, practical judgement, conservation projects and effective visitor or stakeholder communication.
Senior Field Officer
Lachlan Valley National Park provides the setting for a field supervisor working with staff and contractors on maintenance and conservation. The Hunthawang depot is about 30 kilometres north of Hillston, and the rotating roster includes weekends and public holidays. Fire management and care of significant heritage infrastructure are part of the work. Check the advertised housing and remote-area support against your circumstances.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter expressing interest and suitability.
What to highlight
Field-team supervision, safe maintenance work, practical problem-solving and delivery within budget and deadlines.
Regional Conservation Officer – BCT
Private land conservation depends on agreements that landholders understand and can put into practice. The Biodiversity Conservation Trust’s North Coast officer combines ecological assessments and mapping with advice, agreement monitoring and ongoing landholder relationships. Port Macquarie is the preferred base, with Coffs Harbour considered by negotiation. Field travel remains part of a role that also supports hybrid office and home work.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter explaining interest and suitability.
What to highlight
Landholder engagement, ecological assessments, GIS, vegetation identification and practical agreement monitoring.
Assistant Project Off Threatened Species
Saving our Species and Assets of Intergenerational Significance programs need coordinated work by staff, contractors and volunteers. This Alstonville position supports that delivery for 17.5 hours a week, with a temporary appointment to August 2028. It is worth considering if you already have threatened-species or conservation project experience and want part-time work. The displayed salary is a full-time equivalent and is paid pro rata.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter expressing interest and suitability.
What to highlight
Threatened-species work, conservation project coordination, relationships with field teams and accurate project records.
Field Operations Officer
Environmental regulation in Dubbo can involve compliance work across air, water, waste and other areas of environmental protection. The EPA has two Field Operations Officer opportunities, one ongoing and one temporary to 30 June 2027. These positions involve applying legislation and making decisions that can be explained to the people affected. They offer an environmental pathway for applicants with relevant regulatory or technical experience.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter of no more than two pages. Include a response of 250 words or less explaining how your experience and achievements make you a great candidate.
What to highlight
Environmental legislation, regulatory judgement, compliance or investigation outcomes and clear communication.
Senior Regional Conservation Officer
Biodiversity agreements in western NSW require ecological advice that makes sense on the ground. Based in Cobar or Bourke, this senior officer works with landholders and coordinates conservation projects across a dispersed region. The work combines technical advice with field assessments and relationship management, including conservation agreements associated with development offsets. Relevant GIS and vegetation-survey experience will help applicants explain their fit.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter expressing interest and suitability.
What to highlight
Conservation partnerships, ecological advice, project delivery, GIS and vegetation survey experience.
Ranger
Cobar’s ranger vacancy covers established parks and new reserve acquisitions in a landscape with important natural and cultural heritage. Conservation and visitor management sit alongside on-ground operations and liaison with stakeholders. The ongoing role includes field and office responsibilities, and successful candidates may qualify for remote-area or relocation assistance. Applicants should consider the location together with the degree, driving and incident-management requirements.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter expressing interest and suitability.
What to highlight
Conservation and visitor management, independent fieldwork, sound decisions and local stakeholder relationships.
Team Leader Field Operations
Roads, fire trails and visitor facilities across the Blue Mountains need coordinated works programs and reliable teams. The Oberon team leader plans operational work, manages contractors and helps maintain fire and incident readiness. This is primarily a planning and people-leadership role with a close connection to field operations. It provides a six-figure option for applicants who can demonstrate safe delivery across competing priorities.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter expressing interest and suitability.
What to highlight
Field-team leadership, contractor management, works planning, budgets and safe operational delivery.
Field Officer Grade 1-4
Kosciuszko National Park is the workplace for this ongoing field role based at Creel Bay near Jindabyne. Tasks include park and asset maintenance, pest and weed control, and support for fire management and emergency response. The role is physically active, and several specified certificates can be obtained within stated periods after commencement. Check those timeframes alongside the licence and pre-employment medical requirements.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter expressing interest and suitability.
What to highlight
Safe maintenance, tools and equipment, adaptability, teamwork and practical problem-solving in outdoor settings.
Ranger Travelling Stock Reserves
Travelling stock reserves support rural communities as well as land-management and biosecurity work. This Local Land Services ranger position undertakes weed control and maintenance, while coordinating field staff and contractors in the Northern Tablelands. Tenterfield is the advertised base, with other regional locations considered. Practical rural experience and constructive relationships with landholders are useful foundations for the application.
Application requirements
Up-to-date resume and cover letter outlining relevant skills, experience and interest.
What to highlight
Weed control, rural land-management knowledge, coordination of field work and constructive landholder relationships.
Activities Instructor -Casual
Rafting and kayaking sessions at Penrith Whitewater Stadium need instructors who can explain activities clearly and keep participants safe. Casual instructors work with children and adults of different abilities, combining activity delivery with customer service. This is a paddlesports role with specific qualification or training requirements. Check the accepted credentials and your availability before treating it as a general sport-instruction opportunity.
Application requirements
Cover letter of no more than two pages and an up-to-date CV of no more than five pages.
What to highlight
Clear instruction, participant safety, inclusive customer service and collaboration during activity delivery.
Trainee – Sport Program Delivery – Sydney Academy
The Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation offers paid work alongside a Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership. Based in Narrabeen, the trainee helps deliver school camps and recreation programs while learning how experienced instructors manage groups. It is an early-career route for someone who enjoys working with people and wants to develop practical leadership skills. Apply through the special traineeship link within the official advert.
Application requirements
Cover letter explaining interest in the Outdoor Leadership traineeship and an up-to-date resume. Apply through the Department of Education link within the official advert.
What to highlight
Motivation to learn, teamwork, participant care, customer service and examples of helping others build confidence.
On-Call Firefighter – MN3 – 432 Raymond Terrace
Raymond Terrace’s on-call firefighters respond to local emergencies and contribute to community fire safety. The role combines training and paid attendance at incidents or drills with a fortnightly retainer. Applicants need to live or work within a reasonable distance of the station and satisfy local availability and attendance requirements. Read those conditions before deciding how the role could fit around your other commitments.
Application requirements
Up-to-date resume and two targeted responses, maximum 300 words each, on teamwork/communication and learning practical skills.
What to highlight
Communication in a team, reliable community service, practical learning and realistic local availability.
On-Call Firefighter – MS3 – 079 Ingleburn
Ingleburn is recruiting on-call firefighters with long-term daytime availability to respond to incidents seven days a week. The work supports emergency response and community safety, with training and payment for eligible attendance. This vacancy has a specific availability requirement that should shape your decision to apply. Your home or workplace also needs to be close enough to support the station’s response needs.
Application requirements
Up-to-date resume and two targeted responses, maximum 300 words each, on teamwork/communication and learning practical skills.
What to highlight
Team communication, learning and applying practical skills, dependable service and the required daytime availability.
Make your practical experience clear on the page
A line such as “responsible for grounds maintenance” leaves much of your experience unexplained. Choose one real job and describe how you assessed the work, identified hazards and used the appropriate equipment. If conditions changed or you discovered a larger problem, explain what you did and who needed to know. Finish with the result you can support, whether that was a completed repair, a safer access route or a documented follow-up.
Adjust the example to the role. An instructor might explain how they changed a briefing for a participant who needed extra support. A conservation officer could show how they worked through a landholder’s concerns and recorded an agreed action. The firefighter vacancies ask for written examples of teamwork and practical learning, so use the exact questions in their guides to select relevant experiences.
Check the commitment before you start writing
Choose one or two roles where the location, work pattern and essential conditions are workable, then compare the application tasks. Keep actual earnings separate from full-time-equivalent salary: the Alstonville position is pro rata, the Penrith role is casual, and on-call firefighters receive a retainer with payment for eligible attendance. Check the official advert for the latest details before submitting.
Use the NSW cover letter template where a letter is requested, alongside the role-specific guide above. If you would like help explaining your own experience in the required documents, you can request application support from Team 3Thirty.