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. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is looking for a positive-minded, physically fit candidate with experience in pest control work to assist with the delivery of several programmes aimed at managing these threats. We are looking for an up-and-coming biosecurity specialist to join the team. 

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 Biosecurity Advisor you will provide technical advice on biosecurity operations to internal and external stakeholders by forging strong relationships and identifying issues where biosecurity assistance is required.

The role will also include:

• The development and implementation of surveillance programmes for key pest plants and animals
• Delivering pest control programmes within the Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP)
• Accurate capturing and recording of biosecurity related information 
• Timely reporting of biosecurity operations as required, and
• Supporting the wider Catchment Operations section

In this role you will work alongside several experienced biosecurity specialists who will provide mentorship and support for your growth and career development. 

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:

You will be a passionate individual with exceptional communication skills with the ability to communicate technical information to diverse audiences and you will demonstrate a work style that focuses on driving and maintaining momentum on projects to see deliverables achieved on the ground.

Ideally you will also have:

• Experience in a similar role/relevant industry
• Technical knowledge of pest management (plants and animals) 
• Practical understanding of information/data collection
• Strong teamwork, persuasion and conflict resolution skills
• Valid driver’s license and two-wheeler motorbike experience would be an advantage
• 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 $74,340 to $82,600 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 Defense 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 28 May 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. 

28 April 2023

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