Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (NZ)

Reference #: 08-284

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is responsible for leading a fully integrated system that minimises the impact on our economy, environment and people from harmful pests and diseases. Many of the pests and diseases that New Zealanders are concerned about threaten conservation and indigenous biodiversity values, e.g. northern pacific sea star, red imported fire ant, didymo and possums.

The Principal Advisor Conservation position is a senior role with a direct line of advice to MAFBNZ’s executive leadership. The role provides a primary point of contact within MAFBNZ through which functions and activities that have conservation or biodiversity implications are facilitated. Its primary functions are:

• Maintaining a strong working relationship, and coordinating operational and policy activities, with the Department of Conservation and where appropriate other agencies (domestic and international) that have conservation or indigenous biodiversity roles;
• Ensuring that equivalent consideration is given to conservation and indigenous biodiversity values alongside other values that might be assessed in any analysis;
• Ensuring that biosecurity systems and processes developed by MAF for internal use as well as those for use across the biosecurity system, take account of conservation and indigenous biodiversity values;
• Working alongside MAFBNZ’s strategic science team and relevant science agencies (e.g., MORST, FRST, CRIs) where the purpose relates to biosecurity implications to conservation and indigenous biodiversity;
• Providing active advice into pre-border, border and post-border programmes for pests and diseases that have conservation and indigenous biodiversity impacts.

For this role you will require:

• A postgraduate qualification, preferably a PhD, in ecological sciences;
• 10-20 years relevant technical/professional experience;
• Extensive experience, knowledge and demonstrated success within a conservation and/or indigenous biodiversity protection area;
• Experience in successful and effective participation at both national and international levels;
• Demonstrated strategic and intellectual leadership;
• Knowledge of/experience with NZ conservation and indigenous biodiversity protection systems.

Applicants must be immediately available for interview within New Zealand and they must hold a current New Zealand work permit or be a New Zealand resident.

 

Contact Details

Position Courtesy of www.jobs.govt.nz please refer to the website for further details and how to apply.

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