Job Description
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
Job Title: Senior Technician | Animal Health laboratory
Role type: Permanent
Location: Wellington - Upper Hutt
Salary range:
$64,331 to $74,977, depending on skills and experience
Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role
Do you want to work in an organisation that is “Growing and protecting New Zealand” and focused on the success of the primary industries for the benefit of all New Zealanders?
The MPI's Animal Health Laboratory has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Senior Technician position to join its Virology Non-Mammalian Team. MPI works with the primary industries across agricultural, aquaculture, fisheries, trade, food, biosecurity and environmental issues. The role offers variety and unique opportunities to develop your skills within a large and dynamic organisation.
The Animal Health Laboratory located at Wallaceville, Upper Hutt is New Zealand's reference centre for exotic, new and emerging terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases and contains both PC2 and PC3+ laboratory facilities. As a Senior Technician within the Virology Non-Mammalian Team you will play a major role in diagnostic testing processes within our laboratory including employing classical virology and molecular testing techniques to support import/export testing, testing for exotic disease investigations and responses, capability development projects, surveillance, quality assurance and test validation. You will also contribute to the daily maintenance and running of the laboratory.
Mōu - About You
Our ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with the following qualifications and experience:
- BSc or equivalent in a biological science
- Knowledge and experience of microbiological laboratories
- Knowledge and experience with a quality assurance system
- Ability to work within the constraints of, and follow the procedures used in a PC3+ containment laboratory
- A track record of demonstrating initiative, technical aptitude, sound judgement.
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. Our laboratory programmes aren't just national - we also work with international partners to monitor biosecurity threats.
One of our greatest assets is our people. We've got a team of highly qualified, passionate science professionals who get to work on an extensive range of organisms and projects. With employees from over 20 different countries, DSS is one of the most diverse, welcoming spaces in MPI.
Then there's our facilities. Our design-award winning Wallaceville National Biocontainment Laboratory is one of the newest, most advanced biocontainment laboratories in the world. Opened in 2021, it's the most complex building in New Zealand. We diagnose, research, and help control animal diseases, including animal diseases that can affect people (zoonoses).
Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua - Benefits of working at MPI
- Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
- Up to three additional leave days (MPI holidays)
- Wellness benefit for employees.
Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru - Security checks
Low level Security Clearance
- most preferably a NZ citizen, who has resided continuously in NZ 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, NZ, 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 NZ 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.
If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.
Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro - Drug and Alcohol Screening
Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred applicant/s for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site under the application process, on pre-employment checks page.
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, whānau 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 Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.
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.
To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the MPI Careers Site. 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 Sunday 3 December 2023.
If you have any questions about the role, please email luke.farrell@mpi.govt.nz.