Senior Pacific Fisheries Adviser
Role type: Permanent Full Time
Location: Wellington, Auckland or other region by arrangement
Salary Range GSR D: $100,934 - $135,076 dependant on skills and experience
About the Role - Korero mo te Turanga
As a Senior Pacific Fisheries Adviser, you will help strengthen the capacity of Pacific Island fisheries administrations to manage their fisheries. You will provide tailored support to countries' needs through training, mentoring and in-country assistance. This is a unique opportunity to support economic, environmental and social outcomes in the Pacific.
You will provide advice and learning opportunities that improve the ability of Pacific Island countries to sustainably manage their fisheries resources. To achieve this, you will work directly with Pacific Fisheries administrations, designing and delivering customised training and learning opportunities as well as directly supporting the development of fisheries plans, policies and strategies. As such, you'll be required to travel up to 10 times per year.
You will be part of a small team working to bolster capacity and capability within a broader development programme for sustainable Pacific fisheries.
As part of your core duties, you will:
- Work with our Pacific partners to identify capacity and capability development needs in Pacific fisheries administrations
- Design and deliver tailored training programmes and learning materials in fisheries management across Pacific Island Countries and Territories
- Develop and maintain relationships both within New Zealand and with Pacific Island administrations and key service providers for the Pacific
- Support the development of fisheries management plans, policies and other relevant tools in coastal and/or offshore Pacific fisheries
About You - Mou
You will be working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners and regional organisations based in a variety of Pacific Island countries. You'll need to lean on your experience in the Pacific and/or with Pacific peoples as you navigate relationships with stakeholders.
You'll have a combination of policy and capability development skills; bringing your experience in fisheries or broader natural resource management together with your ability to guide and support others through complex policy issues.
This is a dynamic, challenging, and rewarding role requiring a unique mix of skills. To be successful in this role you will ideally have:
- A relevant tertiary qualification in economics, law, fisheries, biological sciences, or resource management
- On the ground experience in the Pacific
- Knowledge and experience in fisheries management or natural resource management, ocean, or marine policy
- Relevant experience as a policy analyst or in a similar analytical and problem solving position
- Ability to coach, mentor others and provide intellectual leadership
- Strong project management skills
- Strong degree of initiative, self-motivation and adaptability
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
- Skills in capability development tools and approaches
You're not expected to have all of these skills. But if you have most of them, we'd love to hear from you.
About the Team - Mo to matou Ropu
You'll be well supported as part of a team of six Advisers, reporting to a Team Leader. This team sits within the Highly Migratory and Pacific Fisheries team. Key stakeholders include other inter-governmental agencies in the Pacific such as SPC (Pacific Community) and the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
Though part of a wider team with supportive colleagues, this is a highly autonomous role.
Find out more about the work we do here: Te Patuitanga Ahumoana a Kiwa, Partnerships in Pacific Fisheries
To find out more about Fisheries New Zealand click here
About MPI - Mo te Manatu Ahu Matua
The Ministry for Primary Industries is helping to seize export opportunities for our primary industries, improve sector productivity, ensure the food we produce is safe, increase sustainable resource use, and protect New Zealand from biological risk.
Fisheries New Zealand is a business unit within MPI, focused on managing New Zealand's fisheries resources. We work to ensure that fisheries resources are managed in a way that provides the greatest overall benefit to New Zealanders. Our focus is the sustainability of New Zealand's wild fish stocks, aquaculture operations and broader marine ecosystems, now and in the future. Fisheries New Zealand also plays a role in supporting the sustainability of fisheries across the region.
Benefits of working at MPI - Nga hua o te mahi i te Manatu Ahu Matua
- Additional MPI Leave days
- Annual Wellness payment
- Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
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.
Whilst preference is for candidates that meet these criteria, applicants from other countries can be considered.
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. We extend this value of partnership to our Pacific partners.
We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities e.g. applications from Pacific Island Countries and Territories. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatu Ahu Matua 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.
Applications from Pacific Island Countries and Territories are welcomed. 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 11.59pm on Sunday, 17 August 2025
If you have any questions about the role, please email [email protected]
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