Fishery Officer

**Job Title**:Fishery Officer

**Role type**: Permanent, Full Time

**Location**: Timaru

**Compliance Services salary range**: $72,795 to $85,652 depending on skills and experience

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

The working life of a Fishery Officer is varied and interesting enforcement role. On any given day you may find yourself patrolling the beaches and boat ramps, interacting with the public, inspecting recreational and/or commercial fishing vessels, preparing a file for prosecution, taking part in a surveillance operation, gathering intelligence on fisheries offending, and/or analysing fisheries information. Developing and maintaining relationships with tangata whenua and stakeholder groups who use the fisheries resource is also an important aspect of this role. We are looking for someone with a passion for our marine environment and ensuring it is sustainably utilised and protected for future generations.

**This role is challenging and varied, and this is what we expect from our frontline staff**:

- This is not an 8am-5pm officed based role. We expect our staff to target risk and use their initiative to get out into the field, detect offending and take those responsible to task
- Work under the direction of your District Manager and with experience develop your own work plans and strategies dealing with the issues and priorities in our area
- Be responsible for the education, monitoring and inspection activities across the Fisheries sector
- Interpretate and enforce all relevant fisheries legislation within the fisheries compliance environment
- Detect, investigate, and take action against breaches of Fisheries legislation
- Collate, interpret, and monitor fishing related information and electronic data
- Effectively communicate and develop professional working relationships at all levels of the community and the fishing industry

If successfully shortlisted, you will need to attend an all-day assessment centre in **Timaru on Saturday 15**th** of March.**

If shortlisted for a final interview, you will also need to be able to attend this in person, in **Timaru on Sunday 16**th** of March.**

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

The area you will be working is across the South Canterbury and North Otago area mainly, however as part of the Otago regional team you will also be working within the Otago and South Otago areas and across to South Westland at times. The Otago Region compliance team is made up of two offices (Dunedin and Timaru) together there are 9 x Fishery Officers who report to a District Manager, and are assisted by support staff, and a Regional Manager for the South Island Region. The 2 person Timaru team is based near the port of Timaru. We, and the wider team come from a variety of backgrounds and are generally people who enjoy time in the outdoors, on the water, engaging with people, and problem solving. We are a driven and passionate team who work hard but like to have fun together and celebrate success.

**Mou - About You**

Fishery Officers will have an interest in the marine environment and some knowledge of how the New Zealand Fisheries framework system works. This is an opportunity to combine problem solving with sustainability. You may have studied some Marine Biology, enjoy fishing or diving, trace a special relationship to the moana through generations, have an operational background, have worked in enforcement, or maybe it's something else that inspires you to this role.

You will:

- Be an achiever in both an individual and team context
- Be able to work unsociable hours (weekends and during the night) when required and in differing environments. This also includes being on call to attend to complaints from the public
- Have the ability to communicate with diverse cultures
- Be able to operate in confrontational situations
- Have the ability, when necessary, to travel away overnight, at times at short notice
- Be available for domestic and international Fishery patrol deployments on Navy, Airforce, or other government assets
- Have analytical experience and an enquiring mind-set
- Have an understanding of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its importance in a NZ Fisheries context
- Have knowledge and interest in the marine environment and the NZ Fisheries framework
- Be competent in the use of the Microsoft Office suite of programmes
- Have passion, motivation and drive for the role

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

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

MPI has a focus on career pathways and we will work with you to help you grow.
- To find out more about the Ministry and what we do please click _here_

**Nga hua o te mahi i te Manatu Ahu Matua - Benefits of working at MPI**
- Additional MPI leave days
- Ability to purchase extra annual leave
- We have a comprehensive role specific training programme this is delivered online and has a 3-week residential port