Regional Quarantine Officer | Whangarei

Job Description

Regional Quarantine Officer

Role type: Permanent full-time

Location: Whangarei - Northland

Salary band & range: COPS RQO - $83,363 to $85,280 depending on skills and experience

Are you looking for a new adventure? Become a Regional Quarantine Officer in Whangarei; a thriving city with a vibrant arts community within the Northland region!

Whangarei is a natural playground, full of adventure, connection, and beauty. You could spend your days diving at Poor Knights Island or strolling through the heart of the city, exploring  art galleries, museums, restaurants, cafés and bars. 

The role offers autonomy, fulfilling mahi and the chance to live in a beautiful slice of New Zealand.

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

Our Regional Quarantine Officers (RQO) are valued and respected frontline workers who protect Aotearoa's biosecurity at the border. Typically, Regional Quarantine Officers work either alone or in small teams of two or three. 

The purpose of the Regional Quarantine Officers is to:

• Provide biosecurity direction, clearance and monitoring services in designated regional port/airport/transitional facility environments within wider geographical area.
• Liaise with key stakeholders in the absence of an onsite Chief Quarantine Officer and escalate issues when required.
• Schedule and prioritise work demands with the team.

Your day to day tasks include:

• Inspecting uncleared imports that require MPI biosecurity inspection.
• Making timely decisions on whether these vessels and goods meet MPI requirements then issue a direction (hold, reship, destroy, treatment) or clearance. Uncleared imports can include; Personal effects, vehicles, timber, containers, vessels and yachts.
• RQOs visit approved facilities to complete a performance based verification against their biosecurity management.
• Additionally, RQOs inspect import food samples against MPI food safety requirements.

You would be expected to work an average of 80 hours per fortnight, worked between Monday to Sunday. Regional Quarantine Officers work flexibly depending on the scheduled and unscheduled work demands as well as seasonal peaks. Hours of work may include regular non-standard hours i.e., outside 0600 to 1800hrs Monday to Friday.

*Rosters are subject to change based upon business requirements and periods of high demand*

About You – Mōu

You will need:

• Inspector warrant under Section 103 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (Preferred; or training may be provided for the right candidate)
• Strong vessel, transitional facility verification, cargo, and food safety pathway capability
• Self-motivation with a positive attitude.with Willing to learn and work collaboratively in a small team
• Ability to work autonomously, without hands-on supervision
• Ability to adapt to changes in work priorities and manage workload
• Ability to maintain, foster and build strong stakeholder relationships
• Strong focus on upholding Health and Safety procedures. Understands duties under the HSW Act
• Excellent planning and organisation skills 
• Proficient in using Microsoft suite.
• Capable of accurate and efficient data entry, and report writing
• Be prepared to undertake 2-day RYA Powerboat Level 2 Powerboat Handling training.

You must have a current full New Zealand driver licence (not temporary, learner, or provisional) or equivalent full foreign drivers licence, and any endorsements required for the type of driving you'll be doing.

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. 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

This position reports to Chief Quarantine Officer based in Tauranga, and forms part of the wider team in Whangarei, Hamilton and Tauranga.

The Border Clearance Services Directorate within the Biosecurity New Zealand branch is accountable for ensuring the delivery of sustainable and effective frontline biosecurity clearance services at the border.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

Our role includes seizing export opportunities for our food and fibre sector, improving sector productivity, ensuring the food we produce is safe, increasing sustainable resource use, and protecting New Zealand from biological risk.

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

• Additional MPI leave days
• Annual Wellness payment
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred candidates(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.

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

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 midnight on 2 May 2025

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

Follow MPI here - Whāia ngā tūhononga ki MPI i konei

Links to Facebook, MPI Careers, LinkedIn, X