Senior Adviser Operational Readiness - Plants & Environment | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Adviser

Role type: Permanent, Full time

Location: Wellington preferred

Salary band & range: GSR D $98,955 to $127,260 depending on skills and experience

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

The Senior Adviser is part of the Readiness Plant & Environment team. The team leads the development of plans and processes to deal with Biosecurity threats (pests, diseases, and weeds) that impact plants and the environment, including the critical agriculture and horticulture sectors.

We are seeking a candidate with a strong technical or scientific background, an understanding of New Zealand's biosecurity system, and the importance of good preparedness. Familiarity with how a biosecurity response works and knowledge of the operational and logistical considerations is also desirable.

As the Senior Adviser, you will:

• Lead, manage, and have input into operational and strategic planning for plant and environment readiness
• Ensure plans and processes are up to date with international developments, maintaining active collaboration with national and international experts, partners, and network groups
• Work closely with the Response Group and more broadly across Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) to ensure that all projects, activities, and processes are fit for purpose
• Provide technical expertise in the development and refinement of specifications for standing up a response
• Review historic responses, analyse a given threat organisms' biology, and assess how other countries plan to deal with or have dealt with a response to biosecurity threats
• Evaluate the tools and resources to deal with a given threat, and lead the development of new tools, plans, and processes

Mōu - About You

You will be passionate about implementing and embedding effective frameworks to ensure we are ready to respond to key threats. You will have the ability to see the bigger picture and think of creative and innovative ways for MPI to improve its response readiness.

To succeed in this role, you need:

• A proven ability to deliver quality advice, guidance, and material on time
• Experience leading work and achieving outcomes in situations where there are diverse interests
• Experience in developing and implementing information management processes and systems
• An ability to look at complex problems from a broad perspective
• To be an excellent communicator with collaboration skills

• Qualifications to a higher-level degree - Masters or PhD preferred.

The role is a great way to expand and connect across the Biosecurity system as our work touches nearly all aspects of the system. Join us to build understanding and collaboration across the breadth of biosecurity in New Zealand. This role will be intellectually challenging with an opportunity to expand your skills and knowledge, not just biology of biosecurity threats, but also regarding the many requirements and considerations for detecting, containing, and eradicating or managing biosecurity threats.

There will be opportunities to contribute to a Response if they are ongoing, and any further response training is supported.

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team

The recently formed team of four plus manager are based in Wellington. We comprise a variety of skills including science and technical, operations, operational planning, data management/analysis, and general readiness and response experience. We are known to be highly collaborative team who contribute and collaborate with teams across the Diagnostics, Readiness and Surveillance directorate and more widely across BNZ. The manager is always supportive of personal and career development.

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
• Annual Wellness payment

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 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 11.59pm on 11 February 2025

If you have any questions about the role, please email Cassie.A'Uvaa@mpi.govt.nz 

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