Advisor- Agricultural Chemicals | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Adviser Agricultural Chemicals

Role type: 12 Months Fixed Term (Maternity Cover)

Location: Wellington

Salary range: Adviser $72,781 - $97,056 depending on skills and experience

Please dont wait for the advert to close to apply as we will be assessing applications as they come in

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

We are seeking a technical assessor with a strong background in Chemistry, Horticulture or similar to join the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) team.

The team is responsible for managing risks to animal welfare, human health, trade, and biosecurity associated with the import, manufacturing, use, and sales of veterinary medicines and other agricultural compounds as defined by the ACVM Act 1997.

In this position you will be primarily responsible for undertaking the evaluation of scientific data, and preparing regulatory reports using risk management principles for the purposes of authorising agricultural compounds under the ACVM Act 1997.

No two days are the same! You will be processing applications to make variations to existing registered products and undertaking technical assessment and risk analysis for new products seeking registration under the Act.

In addition, the advisor is responsible for responding to the needs of the Ministry and the primary sector by providing technical advice and contributing to other key work programmes related to the regulation of agricultural chemicals under the Act.

Through your work in this role, you will build on your existing knowledge and capture sector and trade knowledge relating to the registration and use of Agricultural Compounds. Furthermore, there will be opportunities within your areas of work for active collaboration within the ministry, across other government agencies and industry groups .

Mōu - About You

Do you have a Chemistry or Bio-Chemistry background with an understanding of government agencies?

We are seeking an enthusiastic team member who has:

• A degree in Agricultural, Biological or Chemical Sciences or equivalent degree in Environmental or Food Science. A post-graduate qualification in a relevant area and/or relevant experience within industry is desirable.
• Knowledge or background in agricultural compounds that can reduce greenhouse gases via pathways such as methane inhibition would be an asset.
• You will have an excellent working knowledge and understanding of the concepts and practices for information gathering, organising and communication.
• You will be able to apply an analytical framework and quickly understand the nature of technical issues and problems, identify a range of solutions and their implications, form conclusions and provide advice.
• Operate at the technical level required with minimal training in a short timeframe.
• You must have excellent attention to detail and be able to quickly adapt and think on the run.
• You will be confident and able to communicate well in a wide range of environments and have strong and established technical writing abilities as report writing is a key part of the role.

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team  

The team is currently made up five full-time technical staff, plus two contractors who all have a passion for creating and maintaining availability of Agricultural Chemicals and Vertebrate Toxic Agents that are safe and efficacious for use in crop protection and pest control. The team is diverse in terms of age group, ethnicity and scientific background; all bringing their own skillset and experience to strengthen the collective team.

The majority of the Agricultural Chemicals and VTA's Assessment Team is Wellington-based, however some members do reside across the motu, re-joining the team in Wellington for short periods throughout the year.   Because of the diverse nature of the team both personally and geographically, the team is eager for an engaged colleague who is passionate and committed to contributing to a strong cohesive team.

The team members work hard as they see real value in the work that they do both as part of the wider MPI organisation and for New Zealand as a whole. This is an opportunity to be an integral part of a team that is doing important and rewarding work, but who also like to catch up occasionally for a bit social interaction outside of work, often with the wider ACVM team.

Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most sustainable provider of high-value food and primary products. 

Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua - Benefits of working at MPI

• Annual Wellness payment
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
• Mentoring and coaching programmes

Wā Mahi Ngāwari - Flexible Working

We support flexible working arrangements and are happy to discuss these options with you.

Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake? - Are you ready to make a difference?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values, your whakapapa; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at midnight on Tuesday, 6 June 2023

If you have any questions about the role, please email Kirsty.rogers@mpi.govt.nz 

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