Science Translator

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

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

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. 

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.

About the Opportunity:

We are looking for a Science Translator to join the Catchment Policy Implementation Team in our Integrated Catchment Management section.  This newly created role will develop tailored information resources and tools to support the wider team who are dealing with catchment issues within the community. 

The Catchments Policy Implementation Team works with people, places and practices that can make a difference to the health of catchments. We connect people with catchment issues to engage them in action that goes beyond regulatory bottom-line requirements and incentives to achieve positive outcomes for our catchments.

The Science Translator is responsible for taking science information and knowledge from council and a range of other sources and translating it into accessible and usable forms of communication that work for differing audiences.  The aim is to grow greater understanding of catchment challenges and to engage people to take meaningful action.

About you:

You will be an articulate communicator with the ability to tailor science to a wide range of audiences to tell an engaging story about our catchments.  Your knowledge of environmental issues affecting water catchments in Hawke’s Bay and the pathways of loss from land to water will enable you to confidently liaise with a diverse range of groups and individuals.  You will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of how a western science worldview and scientific process compares with Mātauranga Māori and other societal perspectives.

Ideally you will have:

• A relevant post-graduate qualification is preferable or equivalent tertiary qualification. A qualification in science communication would be an advantage.
• Valid driver’s licence.
• Ability to influence and support change within the rural community and agri-industry sectors.
• Ability to effectively gather multiple sources of information and apply technical and analytical skills to make effective decisions.
• Ability to understand human psychology and audience perspectives to know what works and what doesn’t and to choose forms and approaches to communication that are most effective in making science communications more engaging.

To have the opportunity to learn, grow and directly contribute to Council and have a very visible and tangible impact on our service delivery please APPLY NOW.

All applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

To view the job description please click HERE

Please apply via SEEK

Applications close 27 August 2021, however suitable candidates may be contacted prior to the closing date.

6 August 2021

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