ROLE DESCRIPTION

Date of Last Review: January 2012 Title Environmental Advisor Stratum II Incumbent Vacant

LOCATION

Branch and Environment Geographical Christchurch Section Location Reports to Manager Environment Manager Once Chief Executive Removed

CONTEXT Antarctica New Zealand is a Crown Entity established on 1 July 1996 under the New Zealand Antarctic Institute Act to develop, manage and execute New Zealand’s activities in respect of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. New Zealand has made a strong commitment to the conservation of the intrinsic and wilderness values of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean through active and responsible environmental stewardship. Environmental leadership is an area that New Zealand has advocated strongly both in our own operations and through the Antarctic Treaty System with some success. Understanding the Antarctic environment and developing innovative solutions to environmental management challenges remains a key goal for Antarctica New Zealand over the next five years. These challenges will be met within the context of the New Zealand Antarctic Institute Act 1996, the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act 1994, the New Zealand Government’s Statement of Strategic Interest in Antarctica 2002, and the relevant instruments of the Antarctic Treaty System. This permanent role is to ensure our on ice activity, including the running of Scott Base is operating at the leading edge of environmental best practice. The role will report to the Manager Environment, but provide services to the Manager Operations and Infrastructure. The second Environmental Advisor’s role is focussed on better understanding and managing the wider Antarctic environment. Antarctica New Zealand operates an accountability‐based culture supported by a leadership model that all new employees will be trained in. This role description contains some of the terminology used by that model. The purpose of the role of the Manager Environment is: “To ensure New Zealand’s Antarctic Programme is well positioned internationally and domestically.” The purpose of the role of the Manager Operations and Infrastructure is: “To ensure a continuous, efficient and effective New Zealand presence in Antarctica by running the NZ Antarctic Programme safely and sustainably.”

Role Description – Environmental Advisor Page 1 of 7 WORK ENVIRONMENT

Critical Work Environment Issues This is an office‐based role with a large proportion of time spent in front of a computer, which requires ongoing monitoring of potential health and safety risks. The role may require up to two months at a time to be spent in the hazardous environment of the Antarctic. This places pressure on both the physical and mental wellbeing of the incumbent and places pressure on family and other close relationships. Additional pressure may result from occasional time spent away from the workplace at national and international meetings and conferences that require air travel.

ROLE PURPOSE

To ensure best practice environmental management throughout the New Zealand Antarctic programme.

ROLE TYPE

Service.

ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

Areas of Accountability Typical Behaviours which Performance Indicators demonstrate work at the which may be a result of the appropriate level incumbent working at the right level Health Safety and Environment Incidents and hazards are Incidents and hazards are (HSE) reported and identified. promptly dealt with. Ensure the health and safety of HSE system improvement HSE awareness is high among all people and the protection of the suggestions are made. staff. environment. Actively contributes to HSE Contribution to the HSE discussions. Committee is valued by other team members. Actively contributes as a member of the Christchurch HSE Committee. Challenges the unsafe acts of others.

Scott Base Impacts Monitoring Works with the Operations and Scientists provide input to the Manages relevant monitoring Infrastructure team to establish a work as required. activities to better understand relevant Scott Base monitoring the environmental impacts of programme. Scott Base Leadership Team Scott Base activities. (SBLT) understands and supports Develops and implements the monitoring. procedures for minimising the risks of non‐native species The resulting data is actively used incursions at Scott Base. to manage Antarctica New Convenes the Antarctica New Zealand activities. Zealand biosecurity group.

Role Description – Environmental Advisor Page 2 of 7 Areas of Accountability Typical Behaviours which Performance Indicators demonstrate work at the which may be a result of the appropriate level incumbent working at the right level Manages the non‐natives species The Antarctica New Zealand incursions database. biosecurity team actively contributes to managing the risks of non‐native species.

Robust procedures are in place to manage the identified risks.

National biosecurity experts actively engage with the work we are doing.

The data shows that the risks of non‐native species incursions are being managed at an acceptable level. Environmental advice Supports and advises Manager Manager Operations and Provides advice on best practice Operations and Infrastructure on Infrastructure and the Scott Base environmental technologies and spill prevention, response and Leadership Team are satisfied practices. monitoring; energy management with advice received and take issues; green building appropriate action as required. technologies and waste management practices. Environmental Impact Processes all Preliminary PEEs and any variations are Assessments (EIA) Environmental Evaluations (PEEs) processed efficiently. submissions from Antarctica New Supports New Zealand’s EIA obligations. Zealand‐supported events.

Liaises with Event Managers and advises MFAT over any requested PEE variations. Supports the development of an The IT solution improves the IT solution to the Event efficiency of processing EIA Management System. submissions. Assists with developing advice to MFAT are satisfied with the MFAT on all Initial Environmental quality and timeliness of all EIA Evaluations (IEEs) submitted advice provided. under the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act.

Assists Manager Environment in New Zealand’s advice to the CEP developing advice to MFAT and on draft CEEs is highly regarded. the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) on draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluations (CEEs) circulated under the provisions of Annex I to the Environmental Protocol.

Role Description – Environmental Advisor Page 3 of 7 Areas of Accountability Typical Behaviours which Performance Indicators demonstrate work at the which may be a result of the appropriate level incumbent working at the right level Ensures the sites of past activity The Programme Support Team database is utilized effectively – are aware of the sites of past both internally and externally. activities database as a resource planning tool.

New Zealand and the US routinely share information on sites of past activity and their clean up. Area Protection and Leads the review of Antarctic New Zealand’s obligations for Management Specially Protected Area revising Antarctic Specially New Zealand supports an management plans for which Protected Area management effective protected areas New Zealand has responsibility, plans are met. network in the Ross Sea region of and updates the plans Antarctica. accordingly. New Zealand develops innovative approaches to protected area Manages projects to improve our management. knowledge of protected and The Dry Valleys Antarctic managed area values. Specially Managed Area Collates New Zealand input to management group provides the Dry Valleys Antarctic Specially effective implementation of the Managed Area management management plan. group. The US acknowledges the quality

Collates New Zealand input to of the advice provided. US‐led reviews of other New Zealand’s input to the SGMP protected area management plans. is highly valued.

Inputs to the CEP’s Subsidiary Antarctica New Zealand’s input to

Group on Management Plans the Ross Sea marine protected (SGMP) as required. area adds value and is welcomed Provides Antarctica New Zealand by MFAT. input to the development of a Ross Sea marine protected area.

Enviro‐Mark Undertakes a six‐monthly Internal audits regularly indentify Antarctica New Zealand’s high internal audit against the Enviro‐ improvement opportunities. level Enviro‐Mark status is Mark standard. Annual external audits run maintained. Leads the preparation for and smoothly. coordinates the annual external Action plans are accepted and Enviro‐Mark audit. implemented by the Manager Supports development of an Operations and Infrastructure action plan to give effect to the (MOI). outcomes to both internal and Antarctica New Zealand retains external audits. diamond level certification.

Role Description – Environmental Advisor Page 4 of 7 Areas of Accountability Typical Behaviours which Performance Indicators demonstrate work at the which may be a result of the appropriate level incumbent working at the right level CEMARS Processes the relevant energy The annual CEMARS report is Antarctic New Zealand CEMARS data to support the annual regarded as high quality by the accreditation is maintained reporting under CEMARS. auditors.

Leads the preparation for and The annual audit runs smoothly. coordinates the annual external

CEMARS audit. Antarctica New Zealand retains its CEMARS certification.

Antarctic Treaty Exchange of Populates the International MFAT are satisfied with the Information Electronic Information Exchange quality and timeliness of the Antarctica New Zealand’s input System with all relevant data by information provided. to the data required by the due deadlines. Antarctic Treaty exchange of information is provided by due deadlines. Business Planning Contributes to the development Assigned tasks are completed to Contributes to the development and achievement of the team plan. and implementation of team business plan. business plans. Team Leadership and Team Demonstrates use and Team leader / team member Membership understanding of Antarctica New behaviours are demonstrated in Develops and participates in high Zealand’s leadership model and all teams and accountabilities are performing teams associated tools (D4TR, Task clearly understood. Assignment) Acknowledged by team members Contributes as a team member as a valuable contributor to the and team leader to creating high success of the team performing teams and supports Participates in discussions with others to do their work of role. team members in order to add Participates in performance value to their work discussions, coaching, and Shows courage in challenging developmental opportunities behaviour that does not align Behaves consistently with with Antarctica NZ’s values or the Antarctica NZ’s values and the State Services Code of Conduct. State Services Code of Conduct SharePoint information can be Contributes to knowledge sharing relied upon as being accurate and by creating and maintaining up‐to‐date information in SharePoint.

Role Description – Environmental Advisor Page 5 of 7 MINIMUM CAPABILITY NECESSARY TO WORK TO ROLE

CAPABILITY AREA DESCRIPTION Cognitive Power • Capable of seeking context within operating environment, seeing implications for the future, sees connections between different processes, and understands consequences of decisions over a 1 year timeframe. • Able to develop and articulate best pathway to a future goal based on analysis of several possible options. Knowledge and Skills • Strong organisational skills • Has a good understanding of relevant national and international Antarctic legislation • Excellent communication skills (written and spoken) • A Masters degree in an environmental discipline is preferred • Some auditing experience (ideally environmental auditing) is preferred • Some Antarctic experience is preferable • Sound knowledge of PC‐based database systems. Emotional Intelligence • Demonstrates ability to learn, even from difficult situations. (Judgement, temperament • Confronts issues and persists to resolve them and influence) • Effective interpersonal skills, including the use of enquiry, that supports mutually understanding and buy in to plans and changes • Diplomacy needed to work competently at an international level with diverse and conflicting stakeholders. • Commitment and passion for New Zealand’s work in Antarctica and Antarctica NZ’s role in particular • Views stakeholders from a service perspective and patiently seeks ways to understand and meet their needs • Values collaboration with peers to achieve organisational goals. Valuing Work of Role • Recognises the value of teamwork and desire to contribute to a professional team. • Recognises the value of robust processes and systems to add value to the organisations objectives. • Continually seeks to improve processes and procedures. • Co‐operates with others to achieve results. • Commits to New Zealand’s work in Antarctica. • Takes a flexible and innovative approach to problem solving.

ROLE RELATIONSHIPS Internal a) Has delegated authority:

WITH: SCOPE All staff Service authority with regard to the collection of information necessary to complete EIA accountabilities. b) Accountable for recognising others’ delegated authority:

WITH: SCOPE Manager Environment Audit authority in relation to environmental management systems. Prescribe authority in relation to environmental permitting requirements in Antarctica.

Role Description – Environmental Advisor Page 6 of 7 Manager Operations and Infrastructure Audit authority in relation to operational support systems.

CEO Audit authority in relation to communications and public awareness systems. Audit authority in relation to media. Scott Base Leadership Team Prescribe authority in relation to operational procedures in Antarctica. Programme Support Team Audit authority in relation to event logistics. Manager Antarctic Sciences Prescribe authority in relation to managing the Science System.

External a) Accountable for achieving stakeholder relationship outcomes:

WITH: SCOPE Science Event Managers The collection of key information to support the Event Management System. MFAT Provision of high quality EIA information to prescribed deadlines.

ROLE AUTHORISATIONS I confirm that this Role Description accurately describes the work of the role:

Chief Executive Date

I accept this Role Description accurately describes the work of the role for which I am accountable:

Environmental Advisor Date

Role Description – Environmental Advisor Page 7 of 7