We are an enthusiastic bunch of people at Taranaki Regional Council, helping the region continue to be an enviable place to live, play and do business.

Our mission is to work for a thriving Taranaki by promoting the sustainable use, development and protection of our natural and physical resources, and advocating for the region's best interests.

Mo te tunga - About the role

The position of Scientist - Coastal and Marine is responsible for contributing specialist expertise, knowledge and technical leadership in the areas of coastal and marine science, with a primary focus on marine ecology. You will use your skills to develop, coordinate and deliver environmental monitoring programmes, research and investigations, and contribute specialist input across a wide range of Council activities.

This varied and interesting role will have you working in close collaboration with staff across the Council to provide technical advice and guidance that will inform resource consent processing, policy development and implementation, and support the wider Environment Quality group in the delivery of state of the environment and consent monitoring programmes, and other projects and investigations as they arise.

Mou - About you

You will have a passion for the environment, and an interest in working at the interface of science and resource management. You will bring both technical knowledge and practical experience in data collection, analysis and reporting, along with a sound understanding of marine ecology, including a familiarity with New Zealand marine taxa. Strong relationship building and communication skills are a key aspect of this role. Familiarity with the Resource Management Act 1991, National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, and relevant national standards and regulations would be advantageous.

You will need a relevant qualification in marine biology/ecology or another relevant discipline.

We like to set people up for success so you'll be a leading applicant if you also have the following:

• An ability to design, implement and manage environmental monitoring and research programmes relating to marine ecology and coastal water quality
• Good data management skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Knowledge and experience using Microsoft Office suite, database and information systems. Prior exposure to Iris, Hilltop and ESRI GIS, and experience using 'R' or similar programming language will be viewed favourably
• Ability to collate and analyse scientific data and information, and communicate this information in an engaging and informative way
• Ability to manage multiple jobs, remaining flexible and agile in your approach
• Versatile and resourceful, with exceptional interpersonal and organisational skills
• Practical experience working in the field, with a full driver's licence