Fishery Officer | Nelson

Job Description

Job Title: Fishery Officer

Role type: Fulltime Permanent

Location: Nelson

Salary range: $ 70,675 to $ 85,927 depending on skills and experience

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

The working life of a Fishery Officer is varied and interesting. On any given day you may find yourself patrolling the beaches and boat ramps, educating the public on the fishing rules, inspecting recreational and/or commercial fishing vessels, preparing a file for prosecution, taking part in a surveillance operation, gathering intelligence on fisheries offending, and/or analysing fisheries information. Developing and maintaining relationships with tangata whenua and stakeholder groups who use the fisheries resource is also an important aspect of this role. 

This role is challenging and varied, and this is what we expect from our frontline staff:

• Work under the direction of your team leader and with experience develop your own work plans and strategies dealing with the issues and priorities in our area.
• Be responsible for the education, monitoring and inspection activities across the Fisheries sector.
• Detect, investigate, and take action against breaches of Fisheries legislation.
• Collate, interpret, and monitor fishing related information and electronic data.
• Effectively communicate and develop professional working relationships at all levels of the community and the fishing industry. 

Mōu - About You

Successful Fishery Officers will have an interest in the marine environment and some knowledge of how the NZ Fisheries framework system works. This is an opportunity to combine problem solving with sustainability, you may have studied some Marine Biology, really enjoy your fishing or diving, or trace a special relationship to the moana through generations, have an operational background or have worked in enforcement, or maybe it's something else that inspires you to this role.

You will also;

• Be able to keep your cool in confrontational situations, this happens from time to time as this is an enforcement role
• Have the ability to work unsociable hours (weekends, public holidays, early or late and during the night) when required and in differing environments. This also includes being on call to attend to complaints from the public
• Be comfortable being away from home for a night or two, perhaps longer on occasion. This could be for training purposes, for patrols, or to support work in other parts of NZ. This can include patrol deployments on Navy, Airforce, or other government assets
• Have an enquiring mind-set, analytical experience is very useful
• Be able to keep your cool in confrontational situations, this happens from time to time as this is an enforcement role
• Have a basic understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its importance in a NZ Fisheries context
• Have computer literacy; skilled in the use of the Microsoft Office suite and a familiarity with databases
• Be passionate, motivated and driven to succeed in the role both in a team and on your own.

Please note there is fitness test requirement for this role, details are outlined in the job description. You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit. 

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team  

You will be joining the Nelson team, an integral part of the Upper South Island Fisheries Compliance regional team. There are 30 staff in the wider region in three teams spread across the 6 offices. We are mostly Fishery Officers, with support staff, an analyst and 3 team leaders.  The Fishery Officers come from a variety of backgrounds and are generally people who enjoy time in the outdoors, fishing and the sea, engaging with people, and problem solving.

Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources.

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

• Additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation

Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru - Security checks

Higher level Security Clearance

• most preferably a New Zealand citizen who has resided continuously in New Zealand for at least the last ten (10) years, OR
• is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last ten (10) years: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK or the USA; and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the NZSIS towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at a higher level.
• click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.

If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.

 Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro - Drug and Alcohol Screening

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred applicant/s for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site, here.

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^th June 2023

If you have any questions about the role, please email cassie.a'uvaa@mpi.govt.nz

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