Senior Biosecurity Advisor

Te Whakapakari Tahi I Tō tātau Taiao – Enhancing our environment together.

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

Today our native species and ecosystems are in crisis from a host of threats such as invasive pests. We are looking for an experienced biosecurity specialist to join our Biosecurity team as a Senior Biosecurity Advisor.

The Biosecurity team supports the alignment of land use to biosecurity-related community aspirations and legislative requirements, including how farm, catchment and regional biosecurity initiatives are integrated to deliver desired biosecurity outcomes for our region. 

As a Senior Biosecurity Advisor, you will not only provide technical advice on biosecurity operations to internal and external stakeholders, but you will also mentor and coach the more junior members of your team to pass on your wealth of knowledge and support their growth. Your team leader will also look to you for guidance more specifically around pest animals and their management across the Hawke’s Bay region.

Key accountabilities include:

• Working closely with the Catchment Management Lead Biosecurity and other Senior Biosecurity Advisor position in prioritising Biosecurity work programmes and coordinating their delivery
• Looking for synergies and smarter ways of delivering these programmes utilising the skillsets of the Biosecurity Advisors to encourage engagement and growth
• You will also play a key role in producing the Biosecurity Operational Plan and Annual Report
• Developing and maintaining close relationships with stakeholders to facilitate programme delivery and the collective impact of our outcomes
• Spending time out on the farm and in the community to deliver solutions and results where it matters.

This role is based in our Napier office but may be required to travel within the region on occasion. 

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is looking for a positive-minded, physically fit candidate with expertise in pest control work to assist with the delivery of several programmes aimed at managing these threats. 

Ideally you will also have:

• A Relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent tertiary qualification
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role/relevant industry 
• Experience working in a rural landscape and in one or more modes of on-farm transport (quad bike, side by side, motorbike and/or 4x4)
• An up-to-date understanding of threats to indigenous biodiversity as well as the Biosecurity Act, the enforcement process, and working knowledge of the Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP)
• Leadership, mentoring, or coaching experience with a willingness to share what you know, and
• Resilience, adaptability, and flexibility to keep up with the ever-changing nature of HBRC. 

The role may require variable hours to be worked and will often operate unsupervised. Applicants should put a high degree of importance on safe work practices and be familiar with the use of GPS devices.

For the right candidate this role will be exciting and dynamic with the possibility to make a real and positive contribution to not only the Biosecurity team but also the wider Hawke’s Bay region.

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:

The salary range for this role is between $87,480 to $97,200 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. 

Other benefits of working for our team include limited income protection and life insurance, subsidised eye tests and lenses, flu vaccinations, and other well-being initiatives. HBRC also has a strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a flexible and supportive working environment. To see a full list of our benefits please visit our website.

We value diversity and as such we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status although applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand. HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

How to apply | I pēhea ki te whakauru:

Please apply through Seek or send your CV and cover letter directly to HR@hbrc.govt.nz.

Applications close 3 June 2023. To view the job description please visit our website here. 

Please note that we will be reviewing and shortlisting applicants as they come in. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.

About us | E pā ki a mātou:

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Te kounga o te wai, te haumarutanga me te mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi o te whakamarutanga | Water quality, safety and climate-resilient security.  

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua | Climate-smart and sustainable land use. 

Kia ora, kia āhei, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki te rerenga rauropi | Healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity. 

Kia toitū, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki ngā ratonga me ngā hanganga ā-whare | Sustainable and climate-resilient services and infrastructure.