Pacific Scientist

**Job Title**:Pacific Regional Scientist**

**Role type**: Fixed term (till September 2026)

**Location**: Auckland

**Salary band & range**: $ 74,964 to $ 96,213 depending on skills and experience_ _

**About the Role - Korero mo te Turanga**

As a Pacific Regional Scientist in the Pacific Programmes Team, you will provide capability development to the Pacific on diagnostic and advisory services for exotic and emerging pests and diseases affecting plants and the terrestrial environment. You will lead the delivery and coordination of plant health capability training in specific Pacific Island Countries (PICs). This role requires frequent travel to the Pacific Islands.

Your responsibilities will include delivering diagnostics via investigations support, developing new techniques, and providing technical input for specimen identification and programme activities.

You will support PICs response management by offering technical advice, coordinating field sampling and survey work, and responding to new records.
- _**About You - Mou**

We are looking for a dedicated professional with a tertiary qualification in a relevant field such as entomology.
- You should have 2 to 5 years of laboratory experience in a relevant specialist area, with a solid understanding of the major groups of plant and environmental pests.
- Experience with the identification, biology, and control of high-impact exotic pests is essential.
- Ability to lead projects and tasks without direct supervision and support. You should possess strong project management skills and the ability to manage relationships with both internal and external stakeholders effectively.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills are crucial for this role, there will be multiple stakeholders that you will need to present information too.

**About the Team - Mo to matou Ropu**

The Pacific Programme is made up of dedicated animal and plant health specialists committed to strengthening biosecurity systems across the Pacific. Operating from both Auckland and Wellington the small team works close together to co-ordinate initiatives, share expertise, and deliver impactful results.

This is a unique opportunity to supports MPI's and New Zealands role in fostering strong partnerships across the Pacific and advancing regional agricultural prosperity.

**About MPI - Mo te Manatu Ahu Matua**

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki - guardianship of our natural resources

**Benefits of working at MPI - Nga hua o te mahi i te Manatu Ahu Matua**
- Additional MPI leave days
- Ability to purchase extra annual leave
- Annual Wellness payment

**Security checks - Nga Taki Whakahaumaru**

**Low level Security Clearance**
- most preferably a New Zealand citizen, who has **resided continuously in New Zealand**for at least the last **five (5) years**, OR
- is a citizen of, **and/or has resided continuously** in one or more of the following countries for the last **five (5) years**: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); **and** has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.
- click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.

**Credit check - Tirotiro nama**

**Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mo tenei mahi whaitake?**

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapu, whanau and hapori.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; 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.

**Applications close at midnight on**Friday 30**th** May 2025**

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