Senior Advisor Ecotoxicology/Environmental-fate

Our purpose | To tatou Kaupapa 

We are the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Aotearoa New Zealand’s independent environmental regulator. Our role is important: to help protect our country’s unique way of life by looking out for the health of its environment, its economy, and its people.  

Our kaupapa is about making the right decisions based on evidence, mātauranga, and science. At the EPA, we encourage big ideas and bold goals.  

What we achieve today helps shape the future of New Zealand for generations to come.  

Come join us 

We welcome you to join us on our journey to a healthy environment that benefits us all. 

Jump in the waka - make history with us! 

About our group | Mō te roopu 

The purpose of the Hazardous Substances & New Organisms Group is to manage application and reassessment processes.   

About the role | Mō te tūnga  

We currently have a Senior Advisor vacancy for either of the following two specialties: Environmental-fate (e-fate) or Ecotoxicology.  

The purpose of our technical Senior Advisor positions is to provide objective specialist environmental-fate and ecotoxicology expertise on and undertake the assessments and reassessments of Hazardous Substances for the EPA, as well as providing support and expertise across the wider team and the EPA in carrying out our statutory functions. 

You will help us evaluate applications for the import, manufacture, and reassessment of chemicals into New Zealand, as well as providing support and expertise across the wider team and environmental regulatory system helping shape the future of New Zealand. 

In this role, you will need to have a focus on time management, quality, and have an eye for detail as well as being able to support a positive, collaborative, and professional team culture. 

Accountabilities  

Some of the accountabilities of this role include: 

• Conduct comprehensive reviews of applications including assessment on the data quality, reliability, and interpretation of the ecotoxicological relevance of any of the observed changes   

• Provide advice and recommendations following review and consideration of environmental fate studies. 

• Establishment of classifications and reference values according to the New Zealand application of the Global Harmonized System (GHS) 

• Accountable for the review of exposure data to formulate risk assessments for various organism types and compartments as per EPA risk assessment methodology 

• Support system development and maintenance  

• Provide professional leadership and advice 

About you | Mōhou ake  

We are looking for someone with a range of skills and experience – if you have some or all of the below, we would love to hear from you. We are particularly interested in hearing from any candidates with a background in environmental-fate.  

• Demonstrated ability to understand complicated scientific concepts, judge their validity, and provide advice on them 

• Strong scientific background, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills coupled with application of scientific principles and exposure data/metrics for use in regulatory science and risk assessment 

• Sound knowledge of chemical legislation (New Zealand and/or overseas) and its application 

• Proven track record of at least 5 years of experience within a regulatory, industry, and/or consulting environment 

• Demonstrated ability to collect evidence (data and information) from various sources, using relevant methodologies, understanding and interpreting reports in order to compile evidence 

• Experience in determining GHS classification of chemicals and products for safety data sheets (SDS) and labelling 

• Experience conducting risk assessment for chemicals in the specialist area (environmental-fate and/or ecotoxicology) 

• Master’s Degree or higher qualification in specialist area. Professional qualifications in the relevant specialist area are considered a plus  

• Strong written and oral communication skills that allow dissemination of complex technical issues in a clear, concise manner to a variety of scientific and non-scientific audiences 

• Team player mentality with a pro-active, result oriented, enthusiastic, and flexible attitude  

• Ideally, you will have an expert knowledge of chemicals or agrichemical regulations 

What’s in it for you | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou 

There are extra benefits to working at the EPA: 

• flexible working culture 

• three additional annual leave days between Christmas and New Year’s in addition to four weeks’ annual leave 

• $400 non-taxable payment to help you set up working at home  

• an annual paid EPA Environment Day to support the community with environmental initiatives 

• in-house Māori cultural capability building programme  

• learning opportunities, including the annual EPA Symposium  

• active and lively social club, diverse groups, and support networks  

• EPA awards recognising individual and team effort 

• relocation assistance for those moving to New Zealand from overseas.  

Salary range |   

$100,779 - $151,169 per annum (midpoint $125,974).  

This is the full salary range. Appointments will likely be made at or below the midpoint of this range, depending on skills and experience. An appointment at the midpoint assumes 100% competency in the role, with the full band covering a range of 80% - 120%.   

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono  

Complete the online application form and submit your CV and a covering letter.  

Please note: your covering letter is an important part of our assessment process. Please highlight how your experience relates to this role, and why you applied. Tell us about you, your values and/or whakapapa. 

For more information, please contact askpeopleandcapability@epa.govt.nz at or check out the careers section of our website www.epa.govt.nz/careers. 

Applications close | Rā Katinga  

5pm, Monday 24 March 2025    

We will be reviewing and processing applications as they are received.