Job title: Senior Technician - Horticulture

Role type: Full time, permanent

Location: Auckland - Mount Albert & Tamaki

Salary band & range: General Salary Range G: $67,658 to $78,771 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Korero mo te Turanga

The Senior Technician - Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) is a specialised role within MPI's Level 3B quarantine glasshouse and tissue culture facilities, responsible for the care and management of fragile, high-value plant material. This includes delicate tissue cultures and cuttings or budwood that require precise, controlled intervention to establish and grow. Operating in a setting comparable to an intensive care environment for plants, the role focuses on providing optimal conditions and expert husbandry to support plant survival, regeneration, and long-term viability under strict containment protocols.

This position requires a strong combination of technical capability and a genuine commitment to plant care. Importers place significant value on their plant material and expect confidence that it is being closely monitored, actively managed, and supported through any risks or challenges. While relevant qualifications are advantageous, particularly for diagnosing plant health issues such as pests, disease, or environmental stress, practical experience, sound judgement, and a proactive approach are equally important. The role also contributes to maintaining compliance with biosecurity standards, supporting operational integrity, and providing guidance to others within the facility.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the delivery of PEQ services for plants imported into New Zealand under nursery stock and seed for sowing import health standards
• Undertake plant husbandry activities including seed sowing, potting, pruning, plant media preparation, watering, and fertilising
• Manage high-risk plant material, including the care and sub-culturing of tissue culture plants
• Monitor plant health through pest and disease scouting and apply chemical treatments as required
• Prepare chemicals, and media; maintain equipment; order supplies; and ensure accurate record-keeping
• Maintain facility hygiene through routine cleaning of glasshouse and tissue culture environments
• Provide training, guidance, and mentoring to staff and stakeholders to support consistent compliance with biosecurity and safety standards

During extended holiday periods (such as Easter and Christmas), team members participate in a shared roster to attend the site and carry out essential plant welfare checks.

About You - Mou

You are motivated by purpose and take pride in contributing to meaningful outcomes, supporting the safe introduction of new plant material into New Zealand, and enabling industries that feed communities and drive export growth. You value continuity and build strong ownership over your work, developing a close, hands-on understanding of the plants in your care. You are diligent and attentive, with the ability to monitor plant health closely, make timely interventions, and provide clear, reassuring updates to stakeholders on progress and outcomes.

You bring a strong eye for detail and the ability to recognise subtle changes in plant condition over time, supported by accurate and thorough record-keeping. You are comfortable working both hands-on with plants and across systems, maintaining clear documentation to ensure traceability and communication. While biosecurity and regulatory requirements are an important aspect of the role, you are open to learning and applying these in practice. You thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and are committed to continuous improvement, high standards, and excellent service delivery.

You will also demonstrate:

• Practical experience in horticulture, with strong skills in plant maintenance and husbandry
• A customer-focused mindset, with the ability to build trust and maintain effective stakeholder relationships
• Experience or knowledge of working within glasshouse environments
• The ability to manage complex, day-to-day operational activities with attention to detail
• Strong observational skills to identify pests, diseases, and environmental stressors in plants
• Experience undertaking general horticultural tasks such as seed sowing, potting, pruning, watering, fertilising, and spraying
• Capability to support tissue culture work, including sub-culturing activities
• Competence in preparing chemicals, and media, maintaining equipment, and keeping accurate records
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to meet deadlines while maintaining quality
• A collaborative approach, with a focus on improving processes and systems
• Familiarity with biosecurity or regulatory environments (advantageous)

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

About the Team - Mo to matou Ropu

You will be part of a small, highly experienced team of six who work closely together in a collaborative and supportive environment. The team is made up of a Commercial Manager, a Principal Scientist, two specialists (plant protection and horticulture), and two technicians who support the specialists in day-to-day operations. Each role brings a distinct area of expertise with the team strongly aligned around shared outcomes. Collectively bringing around 60 years of experience in the PEQ environment, the team works in a highly coordinated way, sharing observations, discussing interventions, and maintaining detailed records.

About MPI - Mo te Manatu Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

Benefits of working at MPI - Nga hua o te mahi i te Manatu Ahu Matua

• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Annual Wellness payment
• MPI Mentoring program

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamatau Whakapoauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred candidates(s) for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site, here.

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mo tenei mahi whaitake?
We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapu, whanau and hapori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatu Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes, and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click "APPLY FOR THIS JOB" or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it - click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at 11.59pm Thursday 16 July 2026

If you have any questions about the role, please email Sophie.Hallett@mpi.govt.nz

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