Northland Regional Council’s role is to care for and protect Te Taitokerau Northland's environment and communities. Does that resonate with you?

Ko te aha ā mātou mahi? / What work do we do?

We work together with tangata whenua and communities to care for the incredible environment and many communities in our rohe, matching our skills and resources with the visions and aspirations of our people. We work to protect and restore healthy waters and our native taonga, through meaningful partnerships with tangata whenua and communities, and to build more resilient and adaptable communities in a changing climate. Here at Te Kaunihera ā rohe o Te Taitokerau | NRC, your mahi makes a real difference to our communities.

Toitū te whenua, toitū te moana, toitū te tangata. If the land is well, if the sea is well, the people will thrive.   

Te āheinga / The opportunity

Are you passionate about empowering communities to protect native biodiversity? We’re looking for a pest plant champion to ignite that passion within Northland communities, and empower them to tackle weeds in their backyards and their local communities.

Your friendly, positive attitude and wealth of weedy wisdom will help remove the barriers to getting stuck in to weed work. You will advise and support iwi, landowners, and local groups to tackle weeds in their own backyards and communities. You will help the community access and manage resources and funding through our Biofund, Community Pest Control Area and High Value Area programmes.

You’ll help people understand the ‘why’ as well as the ‘how’. You will help create awareness campaigns that motivate and inspire action. You will build pest plant knowledge and capacity through Weed Workshops and education programmes. You’ll work closely with the Education/Enviroschools team, and build strong relationships with tangata whenua, DOC, District Councils, MPI, and other agencies to align efforts and increase resources.

To assist with delivery, you will manage contracts for pest plant control and volunteer coordination, and will report on the programmes and outcomes to demonstrate the value of this community mahi.

He kōrero mōu / About you

We are looking for someone who can bring the following skills, knowledge, personal qualities and experience to our diverse team:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Biosecurity, Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry or similar.
• 5 plus years in a role of relevance.
• Strong understanding of weed management principles, methods and weed identification.
• A great communicator that is able to connect and engage individuals, communities and other agencies in opportunities for action on pest plants.
• Adaptable attitude and an ability to learn and carry out a variety of tasks using a range of skills.
• Experience in working with community groups or similar.
• Good computer literacy skills especially Word, Excel and Outlook and experience using GIS tools.
• Current Standard Growsafe Certificate and experience in the handling and use of agrichemicals.
• Full Drivers Licence

We understand that sometimes the right person doesn't ‘tick all the boxes'. If you feel that you have something to offer, but may not fully meet all the job criteria described, please don’t hesitate to apply, and we’ll consider all your talents.

Ko te aha ngā painga o te mahi kei konei? / What are the benefits of working here?

Just as you care about your community and environment, NRC cares about you and your wellbeing. Our organisation celebrates collective efforts and achievements and recognises every individual for their contributions and dedication to their mahi.

We understand the importance of flexibility, so we’re committed to alternative working arrangements for our staff. We offer a range of flexible work arrangements to suit our people’s varied lifestyles, commitments and cultural needs.

Tono mai / Apply

The mahi we do really makes a difference, so if you are motivated to help nurture our region’s taiao, we are keen to learn more about you. Want to have a kōrero with us first, or just need more information? If so, contact our Biosecurity Manager – Pest Plants, Joanna Barr (Joannab@nrc.govt.nz). To view the job description, visit our careers site where the following link will work: JD: Biosecurity Officer - Pest Plants Partnerships

Applications close on 10 January 2026

Please note as our team will be on leave over the Christmas period, any enquiries made after 23 December 2025 will be replied to after 12 January 2026. Interviews for this role are expected to be scheduled towards the end of January. Please note we will not accept email applications.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency/citizenship, or a valid NZ work visa.