Role type: Permanent, Full-Time
Location: Auckland
Salary range: $78,817 - $92,726 depending on skills and experience
Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role
If you’re interested in a role where you’ll get the chance to work with a highly competent, talented and motivated workforce who work to protect New Zealand’s primary sector and the environment, then keep reading!
The Ministry for Primary Industries has an exciting opportunity for a full-time, permanent Senior Adviser Health Safety & Containment to join the Assurance, Biosafety and Containment Team at MPI's Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) in Auckland.
As the Senior Adviser Health Safety & Containment, you’ll develop and implement effective health and safety and containment practices in agreed areas of PHEL to ensure legislative compliance, and lead health and safety practice and culture. The primary focus is ensuring health and safety and containment systems (encompassing facilities, chemicals, equipment, procedures, and staff) are operating effectively. The role would suit applicants with a background working in laboratories and with strong Health and Safety experience. You will be an excellent team player, with the ability to work effectively across multiple teams, excellent attention to detail, a highly effective communicator and influencer, and adaptable and calm under pressure.
Mōu - About You
Our ideal candidate will have:
• Tertiary qualification(s) in relevant discipline(s), i.e. Biological Science or similar experience, preferably post-graduate qualification.
• Strong judgement and decision-making skills.
• Experience in developing and implementing safety and wellbeing processes, systems and solutions within large and complex organisations.
• Working knowledge of H&S legislation, risk management and of good practice in safety and wellbeing and laboratory containment.
• Understanding of microbiological security concepts.
• Knowledge and understanding of the AS/NZS 2243 Safety in Laboratories standard series, and the ability to implement these requirements for work in PC2 and PC3 laboratories.
• Ability to lead complex projects.
• Experience in managing relationships and consultation with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (both orally and in writing) with a wide range of people in different situations, in order to explain, persuade, convince and influence others.
Overseas (non-NZ) applicants are encouraged to apply. If selected, MPI will provide all needed employer required documentation to facilitate your immigration application. MPI does not provide hands on immigration advice. Relocation costs will be reimbursed up to a negotiable amount.
Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team
Our Diagnostic and Surveillance Services (DSS) directorate are the guardians of Aotearoa New Zealand’s biosecurity. We run a number of targeted and passive biosecurity surveillance programmes at any one time, identifying new pests and diseases that make it past our borders, providing research and analysis on their impact, and supporting eradication where we can.
One of our greatest assets is our people. We’ve got a team of highly qualified, passionate science professionals who get to work on projects they’re interested in. With employees from over 20 different countries, DSS is one of the most diverse, welcoming spaces in MPI.
Then there’s our facilities. We’ve got the highest post-entry quarantine level plant facility in NZ. All our labs are reference labs, so our team works on complex cases, not standard diagnostic lab activities. We have the best, highest qualified people - critical thinkers solving dynamic problems. You’ll work on challenging, interesting and unusual cases – often things that are so new to biosecurity that no one else is working on them.
Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI
Our role includes seizing export opportunities for our food and fibre sector, improving sector productivity, ensuring the food we produce is safe, increasing sustainable resource use, and protecting New Zealand from biological risk.
Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua - Benefits of working at MPI
• Additional MPI leave days
• Comprehensive 3-day MPI Induction Programme
• Work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s highest level post-entry quarantine plant facility
Wā Mahi Ngāwari - Flexible Working
We support flexible working arrangements and are happy to discuss these options with you.
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, whanau 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 a great place to work for all.
In your cover letter we’d like to know about you, your values, your whakapapa; 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 visit the MPI Careers Site (https://careers.mpi.govt.nz/jobs/MPI22-1667824A). 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 midnight on 24 February 2023.
If you have any questions about the role, please email tegan.parry-thompson@mpi.govt.nz
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