Senior Scientist, High Impact Diseases at Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington - Upper Hutt

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Role type: Permanent, Full-Time

Location: Wallaceville, Upper Hutt

Salary range: $78,817 - $124,570 depending on skills and experience

 

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

We have an opening for an experienced scientist to join our Virology (Mammalian) Team as a Senior Scientist High Impact Animal Diseases.

You'll lead the development of protocols and capability for safe handling and diagnostic testing of high impact diseases affecting animals and humans. You'll also build and coordinate a group of specialists from across the AHL to ensure high biosafety laboratory operations are maintained and developed. New Zealand is free of many high impact animal diseases and your role would play a significant role in protecting New Zealand.

In addition, you will provide day-to-day supervision of diagnostic testing to support trade, investigation and response within a wider virology team and AHL.

Ideally, you'll have experience leading others, building others' skills and working under pressure.  Experience working with molecular diagnostic methods requiring a high level of accuracy and precision is essential.

This is a unique role that you're unlikely to find anywhere else in New Zealand.  You'll be the key scientist for diagnostic work in the most secure room in New Zealand's most secure laboratory.

 

Mōu - About You

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant field
• Ten plus years' relevant laboratory experience
• High level understanding of various diagnostic methods applicable to animal and zoonotic pathogens
• Ability to manage biological risks in regard to working with zoonotic agents
• Demonstrable leadership skills
• Ability to communicate with impact
• Ability to lead scientific projects
• Expert knowledge of scientific applications, technology and techniques associated with specialist activity

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.  

 

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 biocontainment laboratory is one of the newest, most advanced biocontainment labs in the world. Opened in 2021, it's the most complex building in New Zealand. All our labs are reference labs, so you can expect to be challenged by complex diagnostic investigations. We are seeking highly qualified people - critical thinkers solving dynamic problems. You'll work on challenging, interesting and unusual cases – providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development.

 

Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI

Our role includes seizing export opportunities for our food and fibre sector, improving sector productivity, ensuring the food we produce is safe, increasing sustainable resource use, and protecting New Zealand from biological risk.

 

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
• Work with some of the best scientific minds in the country
• Work from one of the most technologically advanced biocontainment laboratories in the world

Wā Mahi Ngāwari - Flexible Working
We support flexible working arrangements and are happy to discuss these options with you.

 

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, whanau 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 a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values, your whakapapa; 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 15 February 2023.

If you have any questions about the role, please email tegan.parry-thompson@mpi.govt.nz 

 

Whāia ngā tūhononga ki MPI i konei – Follow MPI here

Links to Facebook, MPI Careers, LinkedIn, Twitter