Biodiversity Officer

Thriving together - mō te taiao, mō ngā tāngata.

Our environment and our people go hand-in-hand.

• Full time, permanent role based in Whakatane
• Challenge and variety
• Great workmates and staff culture

Utilise your practical skills to work with our communities and talented Land Management Officers to drive advancements in the protection of indigenous biodiversity in the Bay of Plenty.

Te āhuatunga a te tūranga | About the role

Based in Whakatāne and reporting to the Eastern Coastal Catchments Team Leader, you will be part of a dedicated and hardworking team.

Your work will include:

• Partnering with community members, landowners and iwi to design, implement and manage biodiversity protection projects.
• Undertaking assessments of ecological values and condition of biodiversity sites.
• Planning and implementing monitoring and conducting surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of biodiversity management programmes.
• Preparing contract specifications and overseeing the delivery of on the ground works for biodiversity protection projects.
• Providing timely, accurate advice to our community and other stakeholders.

This role encourages you to be out on the ground and provides a mix of field and office-based work to keep your days varied and engaging.

Ō pūmanawa | Your skills and experience

We are seeking candidates with a degree in science, preferably qualifications in ecology, related biological science or environmental science. You will have technical knowledge of New Zealand's ecosystem function and flora and fauna. Project and contract management experience is also highly desirable.

You will bring:

• Practical biodiversity management experience
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to build relationships and negotiate win-win outcomes

If you believe your experience and engagement skills make you a strong fit, we’d love to hear from you.

Ko wai mātou | Who we are

Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for land, air and water as well as public transport and economic development. A major focus of our work involves looking after the environment. We manage the effects of people's use of freshwater, land, air and coastal water. However, we also have a broader responsibility with others for the economic, social and cultural well-being of the regional community.

We are a values-driven organisation, that really cares about our people. Who you are is important to us and we welcome diversity as an opportunity to grow our teams and are keen to support people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions and abilities. We want Toi Moana to be a place where you bring your whole self to work.

You’ll be joining the Coastal Catchments team. We work closely with farmers, tangata whenua, consultants and the wider community across the coastal catchments of the Bay of Plenty to progress a range of challenging but rewarding environmental projects.

Highlights of working with us include:

• Varied and challenging work.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Flexibility with the way you work.
• A competitive remuneration and leave package, including additional paid leave over Christmas/New Year, employer paid insurance, well-being initiatives.
• A commitment to supporting you grow and develop.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Click APPLY NOW or contact Kendall Smith – Team Leader, Eastern Coastal Catchments on 029 368 9597 for a confidential discussion.

To access a copy of Te Tūranga Mahi (Job Description) please click on the following link or copy and paste it into your web browser: https://tinyurl.com/yc5spevm

NB: To apply for this job, you must have the legal right to be able to work in New Zealand and also a full current, valid driver's licence. As this position is designated as being "safety sensitive", the successful candidate will be asked to undergo a pre-employment drug and alcohol check as part of the recruitment.

Applications close 11pm, Sunday 19 July 2026 and will only be accepted online.

Please note: Applicants must be available to attend an interview in person if requested (no Teams or Zoom option) and must reside in, or be willing to reside in, Whakatāne or the surrounding area.