Maritime Officer - Dunedin

Mō mātou | About Us Our Vision: Preventing Harm. Saving Lives. Securing our Future We play a key role in the guardianship of New Zealand waterways. We’re bringing together our aroha, work and skills to achieve our outcomes of sustainable supply chains and sectors, safe people and operations, secure ports and ships, and clean seas and waterways. Our values are about who we are as individuals and the behaviors we expect from each other at Maritime NZ. Care | Kia Tika - We care for each other and do the right thing Connect | Kotahitanga - We unite in a common purpose Courage | Kia Māia - We are brave, capable and confident Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the team The General Regulatory Operations (GRO) teams support, encourage and require compliance with safety, environmental and health and safety at work regulations. While undertaking these core activities the GRO teams also increase Maritime NZ's understanding on the causes and drivers of non-compliance, and utilises this information in order to increase the effectiveness of our education, engagement and enforcement efforts. As a Maritime Officer, you’ll be at the frontline of maritime safety and environmental protection in Aotearoa. This is not a desk-only job, it’s varied, challenging, and deeply rewarding. You’ll be trusted to make sound decisions, build strong relationships, and influence safer practices across the maritime sector. Every day, your work helps protect people, the marine environment, and New Zealand’s economic lifelines. Purpose-driven work – Everything we do contributes to safer seas and saved lives; Real impact – See the outcomes of your work in communities, ports and vessels; Professional growth – Comprehensive training, delegations, and career pathways; Supportive culture – Strong focus on wellbeing, teamwork and psychological safety; Nationwide reach – Work across diverse maritime environments and industries; Kaitiakitanga at heart – Be part of Te Korowai o Kaitiakitanga, our commitment to stewardship and guardianship for future generations. Te tūnga | The role As a Maritime Officer in our General Regulatory Operations team, you will: * Carry out audits, inspections and compliance activities across the maritime sector * Engage with operators to educate, influence and improve safety outcomes * Investigate incidents and support enforcement where required * Respond to maritime incidents and contribute to emergency readiness and response * Apply regulatory decision-making frameworks with professionalism and integrity * Build trusted relationships with industry, communities and partner agencies * Contribute to harm prevention programmes and continuous improvement initiatives Supporting the development and delivery of education, and guidance produced to prevent harm in the maritime community you'll assist operators and PCBU's to meet regulatory requirements and operate safety and cleanly. You'll conduct investigations into maritime accidents and incidents as required and participate in prosecution processes as necessary. You will support Maritime NZ's role in specific response incidents and undertake response-related training to acquire/maintain specific skills that may support Maritime NZ's response functions and roles. You’ll be trusted to make sound decisions, build strong relationships, and influence safer practices across the maritime sector. Every day, your work helps protect people, the marine environment, and New Zealand’s economic lifelines. You’ll be at the frontline of maritime safety and environmental protection in Aotearoa in a field-based role that’s varied, challenging, and rewarding. This field staff role and is not suitable for remote working. Nōu te rourou | What you bring You’ll bring experience from the maritime industry, regulatory compliance, health and safety, or a related professional background. You are: * Calm, credible and confident in complex situations; * Able to influence, educate * Comfortable making sound, proportionate decisions; * Committed to public service, safety and environmental protection; * Willing to be trained and appointed as an Inspector under HSWA; * Willing to be trained in modern regulatory, harm prevention and risk management practice * The ability to influence and persuade with excellent interpersonal skills,the ability to manage relationships at all levels and hold people to account when needed; * A current full driver's license and the ability to travel domestically and internationally; * The ability to work in a culturally safe and respectful manner, always being mindful of the cultural diversity of the industry and having regard to Te Ao Māori and Treaty of Waitangi principles’; • Ideally you may have some of these other requirements * An understanding of the Maritime Transport Act * An understanding of the Health and Safety at Work Act * Health and Safety regulatory and compliance experience within local or national Government or with a similar international organisation * An understanding of the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) * A proven history of educating and networking across a wide range of people and cultures * Experience working in the maritime or associated industries, may hold a NZ domestic or overseas maritime qualification Mōu | For you Maritime NZ recognises and respects te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with Māori to build strong, meaningful and enduring relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. We aim to be a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported with a sense of belonging. We encourage our people to actively contribute to our workplace culture where we all thrive and authentically live our MNZ values. Upon joining us you’ll receive a full range of benefits including Income Protection and Life Insurance so check out our full range on our careers page to find out more about why we love working here. Join us and help shape a safer maritime future for Aotearoa. Apply now and become part of the team that protects what matters most. Applications for this role close 5pm, 1 February 2026. Any questions please contact [email protected].