Frontline Operations Coordinator

About Backcountry Helicopters

Located 50 minutes' drive from Wānaka, at the doorstep of Mt Aspiring National Park, Backcountry Helicopters is part of the family-owned Wanaka Helicopters Group. We’re proud to offer the iconic Heli Siberia Adventure in partnership with Wilkin River Jets, as well as helicopter transfers and charters for hunting, hiking and fishing adventures. We also provide a wide range of commercial helicopter services throughout the region.

About the Role

This role sits with Backcountry Helicopters and is based at our shared office in Makarora. You’ll also provide crossover support to Wilkin River Jets, with our frontline teams working across both operations to cover each other's rosters and days off. You'll be the first point of contact for clients booking helicopter flights, coordinating bookings, managing check-ins, and keeping the day-to-day logistics of our operation running smoothly. On crossover days, jet boat trips become part of the mix, giving you plenty of variety and the chance to work across two unique Makarora experiences.

We’re a small, close-knit team working in a fast paced environment where no two days are quite the same. If you thrive on variety, enjoy working with people and want to spend a season as part of a great crew in one of the most spectacular parts of the country, we’d love to hear from you.

Roster: Five days per week, including at least one weekend day
Location: Makarora - a vehicle is provided for commuting if you’re based in Wānaka or Hāwea
Season: Week commencing 19 October 2026 through to mid-May 2027

What You'll Be Doing

• Acting as the primary point of contact for our guests, providing friendly, professional service from initial enquiry through to check-in
• Managing daily bookings, sales, and check-in across our helicopter and jet boat operations
• Working alongside the Base Manager on daily logistics, including flight scheduling, flight following and emergency procedures
• Maintaining clear and effective radio communications and ensuring flight and jet boat manifests are accurate and up to date
• Taking care of day-today administration and ground support tasks with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Supporting our marketing and accounts teams with wider business activities as required
• Pitching in wherever needed to help keep the operation running smoothly, it’s a small team, so flexibility is part of the job

What You'll Need

• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with a natural ability to connect with people
• Confidence using computers and the ability to quickly pick up new systems and technology
• The ability to juggle priorities while staying calm and composed in a busy environment
• A high degree of self-motivation and initiative, with strong attention to detail
• Ability to learn quickly and retain new information
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a diverse team
• Experience in customer-facing and administrative support roles

Experience in aviation, tourism or jet boating would be useful, but it’s not essential. More important is a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and the ability to stay organised when things get busy.

What We Offer

• A genuinely varied seasonal role in one of New Zealand's most spectacular locations
• A firefly, supportive and close-knit-team environment
• A vehicle provided for the commute from Wānaka or Hāwea
• The chance to work across two unique adventure tourism operations
• The opportunity to return for future seasons for the right person