Antarctica New Zealand

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

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