Biosecurity Officer Plants

Role overview

Environment Southland is seeking a Biosecurity Officer focused on plant pests to support work across the Southland region. This role suits someone who enjoys working outdoors, collaborating with people, and finding practical solutions that help protect the natural environment. The position is based in Invercargill, with fieldwork across varied parts of Southland.

The team operates in a lively, supportive environment with access to modern tools, training, and guidance. Southland offers an appealing lifestyle, with beaches, ski areas, national parks, lakes, fiords, short travel times, and a more relaxed pace of life.

The biosecurity function plays an important part in delivering the organisation’s vision for a thriving Southland. The pest plant control programmes support more than 2,500 people each year and cover a wide geographic area, so the successful candidate will help keep these programmes effective into the future.

What the role involves

• Carrying out regional pest management plans for exclusion, eradication, progressive containment, sustained control, and site-led pest plant work.
• Supporting biosecurity strategy activities for plant organisms of interest.
• Completing surveillance, monitoring, and operational response work for emerging pest plant threats and organisms of interest.
• Working in the field across remote locations, waterways, hill country, and operational sites, while maintaining safe work practices and sound field judgement.
• Assisting with the biocontrol programme.
• Tracking progress and preparing work programme updates.
• Contributing to planning and budget input.
• Providing material for council reports.
• Reviewing and analysing data to support outcome reporting, the annual biosecurity report, and RPMP reviews.
• Managing contractors and temporary staff involved in programme delivery, with support from the Team Leader when needed.
• Helping maintain an effective quality assurance process.
• Developing, maintaining, and organising systems and processes for pest plant programmes.

What you will need

• At least 2 years of hands-on, field-based experience in pest plant management.
• A certificate or diploma-level tertiary qualification in a relevant field such as conservation, environmental management, biosecurity, botany, plant ecology, or a related discipline.
• Strong practical ability with digital tools, including field data devices, databases, GIS systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Contract management experience would be an advantage.
• Working knowledge of pest plant and weed control methods, including herbicide application, data collection, 4WD use, GPS use, and field safety.
• Capability in programme planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• A current full driver’s licence, along with the ability to operate a 4WD vehicle off road.

Additional information

The organisation offers a dynamic and friendly workplace, along with technology, training, and support to help staff succeed.

The salary being offered is in the range of $82,530 to $87,115.

Applications close on 28 June 2026.

This role requires staff to support the council’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities in their day-to-day work, including partnership with mana whenua and support for the commitments made to Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku through the Charter of Understanding.

Location: Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand.