Senior Regional Forest Adviser | Dunedin

Job Description

Senior Regional Forest Adviser

Role type: Permanent; Full-time

Location: Dunedin

Salary band & range: General Salary Range D - $102,953 to $120,365 depending on skills and experience

• Help shape the future of forestry in your region.
• Build strong partnerships across the forestry sector
• Dunedin based permanent position

Use your forestry expertise to support sustainable land use, climate outcomes and regional economic growth across New Zealand's forestry sector. 

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

This is an opportunity to use your forestry expertise to support landowners and forestry participants across the region, helping them make informed decisions throughout the full forest lifecycle, from initial planning and establishment through to harvest.

We have had an opening in our team for a Senior Regional Forest Adviser due to a retirement. As a Senior Regional Forest Adviser, you will provide regionally based technical advice that supports forestry and afforestation as part of sustainable primary land use. Your work will contribute to climate change and other environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Working with a high degree of independence, you will build trusted relationships with landowners, forestry participants, industry groups, iwi and hapū, local authorities, government agencies and other regional partners. You will connect people and organisations, encourage collaboration and innovation, and help build forestry knowledge and capability within the region.

In this role, you will:

• provide technical information, insights and advice across all stages of the forest lifecycle
• act as a trusted adviser and strategic partner to landowners, forestry participants and other stakeholders
• connect regional participants and networks to encourage collaboration, learning and innovation
• build and maintain strong relationships across the forestry ecosystem
• support regional engagement and outreach activities
• provide advice on complex forestry and land management matters
• review and sign out advice prepared by other advisers
• draw on specialist expertise across MPI to help manage regional risks and issues
• coach and mentor less experienced advisers
• contribute to MPI responses when required.

Mōu - About You

You will bring strong technical forestry knowledge and significant experience providing advice within the forestry ecosystem. You will understand the full forestry lifecycle and have practical experience with native and/or exotic afforestation, including plantation forestry or regeneration.

You will be comfortable working independently, navigating complexity and providing credible advice to a broad range of people. You will know how to build trust, maintain effective networks and work through challenging issues or relationships while keeping people focused on shared outcomes.

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:

• an NZQA Level 5 qualification or higher in forestry or a related subject
• at least five years' experience providing advice within the forestry ecosystem
• demonstrated experience across the forestry lifecycle
• experience with native and/or exotic afforestation
• an understanding of government regulation within the primary sector, such as the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry
• experience establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with stakeholders at a local or regional level
• strong written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to lead complex work, resolve difficult issues and facilitate productive discussions
• sound judgement and the confidence to make timely decisions in uncertain situations
• strong critical thinking, planning and problem-solving skills
• experience coaching or mentoring others.

Knowledge of climate change, forestry and land management issues, or experience working within MPI's operating environment, would be advantageous.

You do not need to meet every requirement to apply. We offer a range of learning and development opportunities and welcome your application if you believe your skills, experience and perspective would make you a strong fit for the role.

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Forest Service

Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Forest Service works with tangata whenua, landowners, and the forestry and wood processing sectors to support the contribution forests make to the social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.

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 

Credit check - Tirotiro nama

Include for roles requiring a credit check.

Please note, given this position is identified as carrying financial risk, the preferred candidate(s) will be required to satisfactorily pass a credit check.

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

Include for safety sensitive roles only.

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.

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 and your values; your interest in and motivation for the role; and the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and our organisation. These may also have been gained outside the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the https://www.mpi.govt.nz/about-mpi/careers/. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it. Visit https://www.immigration.govt.nz/ to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 16 September.

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