Biosecurity Field Officer - Casual Position (Napier)
AsureQualityAsureQuality is a well-established New Zealand employer in the food safety and quality space, employing more than 1,700 people who collaborate with farmers, producers and others along the food supply chain. They describe themselves as Kaitiaki Kai, guardians of food and the ecosystems it comes from, and they focus on fairness and opportunity for all staff as they attract, develop and retain great people.
The Biosecurity team is expanding to add a new casual, onsite field role in Napier, NZ, aimed at protecting New Zealand from exotic pests and disease incursions. The assignment runs from 5 January 2027 to the end of March 2027, about two to three months depending on weather. There is a mandatory one-day induction slated for either Tuesday 4 November 2026 or Wednesday 5 November 2026, with the training taking place at the Laboratory in Lynfield, Auckland, and daily meetings held at the Hastings office. Hours for this casual position vary and can be anywhere from 0 to 40 hours per week, and the work is limited to daylight hours as it involves outdoor duties. This setup suits someone who enjoys outdoor fieldwork and wants to contribute to protecting New Zealand from biosecurity threats.
If you like working outdoors, collaborating in small teams, and applying practical field science to real-world challenges, this could be a good fit. The role also values a respect for local culture, including mātauranga and tikanga, and offers training to help you do the job well.
Fieldwork in the NIAS program
The core task is to deliver biosecurity surveillance and response field services for the National Invasive Ant Surveillance programme (NIAS). You’ll operate in a two-person team to carry out site inspections, set up trapping or surveillance activities, collect and record data, and handle samples at high-risk locations such as seaports, airports and transitional facilities. There’s a possibility you’ll assist other Biosecurity teams with Fruit Fly Surveillance when needed. Along the way, you’ll show respect for mātauranga Māori and local tikanga, and encourage their practice in your day-to-day duties.
What you’ll need to bring
These requirements outline the core capabilities the team is seeking:
- Good physical stamina for long periods of walking and outdoor work
- Flexibility to take on shifts with short notice, sometimes within 1–7 days
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Comfort using smartphone apps and common computer tools
- Respect for Te Reo me ona tikanga Māori and openness to other cultures
- A can-do attitude and steady work ethic
- Previous biosecurity experience is a plus but not required
- A full, clean New Zealand driver’s licence is desirable but not essential
Practical details and support
The role is casual with hours that can vary and may total up to 40 per week, all scheduled during daylight due to outdoor work. The work period runs from 5 January 2027 to the end of March 2027, weather dependent. Full training is provided, and a one-day induction is required, scheduled for 4 or 5 November 2026. Training will take place at the Lynfield Laboratory in Auckland, with daily meetings at the Hastings office. The position is based in Napier, NZ, and duties are performed onsite.
Advice for applicants
First, tailor your resume to show you can handle outdoor, physically demanding work and your flexibility for short-notice hours tied to project needs. If you have relevant field experience or training that aligns with NIAS or surveillance work, highlight it clearly, even if it was for a different program, and call out any hands-on data collection or sample handling tasks you’ve performed.
Second, prove you can meet the must-haves by giving concrete examples of strong communication in team settings, and by naming specific apps or digital tools you’ve used to record data or manage schedules. If you’ve collaborated with diverse groups or respected different cultural practices on prior projects, share a brief anecdote to demonstrate that capability.
Third, prepare for interview questions that touch on field logistics, two-person team dynamics, and day-to-day problem solving in outdoor environments. Be ready to explain how you stay motivated when hours are irregular or weather disrupts plans, and how you would approach pest surveillance data collection and sample handling in the field.
Finally, consider a thoughtful question to ask during interviews, such as how NIAS coordination works with other biosecurity teams in Napier, what the most common field challenges are for this assignment, or how training will specifically prepare you for the day-to-day duties you’ll perform.