Senior Incursion Investigator/Incursion Investigator - Animal Health Incursion Investigation Team | Wellington - Wallaceville

Job Description

Senior Incursion Investigator/Incursion Investigator – Animal Health Incursion Investigation Team

Role type: Permanent full-time

Location: Upper Hutt

Senior Incursion Investigator: $119,146 to $140,171 depending on skills and experience

Incursion Investigator: $100,752 to $118,532 depending on skills and experience

Join the Animal Health Incursion Investigation Team (Biosecurity Surveillance and Incursion Investigation), within Biosecurity New Zealand.

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Animal Health Incursion Investigation Team includes seven veterinarians with diverse skills and experience. We are based at Wallaceville, Upper Hutt, and work closely with MPI's Animal Health Laboratory scientists and other veterinarians on site.

The team operates in a dynamic, high-trust environment to effectively contribute to New Zealand's biosecurity system. Our focus is the rapid evaluation and investigation of suspected exotic, new and emerging animal pests and diseases.

You must be a veterinarian with a degree registerable in New Zealand. And ideally, you should have postgraduate training in epidemiology (or equivalent) or an interest to pursue this area.

About You - Mōu 

Our ideal candidate also has one or more of the following: 5 years in New Zealand veterinary clinical practice including livestock, experience in applied epidemiology, experience in diagnostic pathology, and/or experience working with transboundary animal diseases.

In addition to your technical skills, you should be a good communicator with a high level of self-awareness, who is able to manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

You do not need to meet all of the role's requirements to apply. We offer development and learning opportunities and welcome applicants who are a great fit with the team.

As an Incursion Investigator/Senior Incursion Investigator, you will:

• Support the team by participating in the on-call rota and fulfilling core investigator duties – this involves after-hours duties to ensure a 7-days a week/24-hours a day coverage for exotic diseases
• Manage the initial notification assessment, field activity, diagnosis, logistics, communication and decision-making during fast-paced and potentially high-profile animal disease investigations
• Work effectively across other teams within Biosecurity New Zealand, and with other government and non-government stakeholders
• Effectively record and report on investigations and their outcomes in databases and in stakeholder publications
• Support Biosecurity Responses as required

Skills and Experience

• A veterinary degree registerable in New Zealand is required
• Training or interest in veterinary epidemiology is preferred
• Other strengths such as experience in practice, applied epidemiology, diagnostic pathology, or work with transboundary animal diseases will be taken into consideration
• Strong analytical ability i.e. the capacity to quickly identify and clearly express core elements of an issue or proposal
• Excellent written skills, with an ability to produce written material that is concise, fluent and clearly presented
• Experience with scientific literature and the ability to research and interpret scientific information and analyse investigation and survey results
• Proven record of teamwork, high self-motivation, initiative, decision making, sound judgement, and ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to build collegial working relationships across colleagues of diverse work styles and preferences
• A positive, can-do attitude!

You'll be someone who can work effectively within a team as well as independently when required, is motivated, has excellent communication skills, and exercises good judgment when confronted with an important issue.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

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

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

• Additional MPI Leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Annual Wellness payment

Low level Security Clearance

• most preferably a New Zealand citizen or Permanent Resident, who has resided continuously in New Zealand for at least the last five (5) years, OR
• is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last five (5) years: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this 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.

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 11.59pm on Sunday 20 July.

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