Senior Biosecurity Advisor Pest Plants

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

Our Environment Services team has an opportunity for 2 experienced Senior Biosecurity Advisor  Plants to join the team! Be a part of leading the delivery of regional biosecurity projects to improve Auckland's biodiversity!

In this role you would develop and manage biosecurity projects to minimise the adverse impacts of pest plants across the region.  You’ll design and deliver pest plant focussed control, some to an eradication standard, and write technical and management reports and assessments. 

Day-to-day you can expect to work on:

• Leading projects  at a regional scale (across the Auckland Region) that protect and enhance biodiversity at priority sites. Predominately these will be pest plant species that are targeted for a high level of control, including eradication, within the Auckland region, on any kind of land tenure, but could also include a wider scope of projects
• Implement the Regional Pest Management Plan at regional scale, including the development of delivery design, surveillance, compliance, incursion response and direct delivery.
• Identify, build and manage relationships with mana whenua, landowners, council whanau (Natural Environment Local Delivery Teams, Reginal and Local Parks), to optimise biodiversity outcomes and support biosecurity-related primary productivity.
• Deliver the quality assurance programme, report on audit outcomes, the corrective actions required and ensure corrective actions are taken.
• Project managing core projects, but also supporting other projects and team members where capacity and priority allows.
• Collaboratively work with other regional and central government agencies such as the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Department of Conservation, Northland and Waikato Regional Councils.
• As this is a Senior role, you will also support team manager and act on their behalf in their absence, and mentor and train staff to grow skills and competencies of others.

This is a great time to join us, as we are currently investing, in a new suite of programmes ranging from pest control in parks, to marine biosecurity, to increasing community-led conservation action!

This role is safety-sensitive and requires pre-employment drug testing. A full driver's license is also a requirement.

He kōrero mōu: About you

To be successful in this role you will have extensive work experience in ecosystem management and in the biodiversity/biosecurity or conservation sector in general.

We will also be looking for experience in:

• Pest plant identification and control.
• Development of large-scale operational plans for pest management.
• Strong relationship building skills as you will be working with the wider council family, iwi and landowners to achieve shared outcomes. 
• Strong communication skills. You will be leading a large virtual team specialising is different disciplines, who also advise or deliver many other projects. A clear concise and trusted communication style is essential to successful delivery in this environment.
• Proven ability to receive and accurately assess a wide variety of information and in turn mould this into a defined and deliverable project that fits timeframe and budget.
• Project Management experience.

You will enjoy being part of our expert, committed and capable Environmental Services team. Our priority is providing the best possible working environment for our staff which includes a focus on employee wellbeing and career progression opportunities.

We will provide you with the opportunity to work across the whole council family, with our mana whenua partners, community groups, private landowners, schools, non-government organisations and central government to support best practice conservation practices and outcomes.
 

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

Auckland Council is one of the largest local authorities in the South Pacific providing essential services and facilities to more than 1.7 million people. We are committed to environmental action and green growth to achieve our vision of becoming the world’s most liveable city.

In return for your hard work, you can expect a flexible and supportive work environment.

Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini My success is not mine alone, but the success of many.

You’ll also have access to a range of fantastic Auckland Council benefits, including discounted Leisure Centre membership and a range of other partnership discounts!

 Tono Mai: Apply Now!

If you have the required experience and a passion for developing relationships in which we think and act sustainably, then we want to hear from you!

For a copy of the position description please click here 

Applications close Wednesday 25th June 2025

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.