We are looking for a motivated and experienced data scientist to join our innovative joint-agency team in Biosecurity NZ and progress data science maturity across the border sector. We are always looking to improve and are after a candidate who is keen to contribute towards new and exciting ways of solving problems. 

The key responsibilities of the role will require you to use data science and visualisations from a wide range of data, develop data products to assist the business with understanding and responding to biosecurity risks, work with the business to understand challenges and develop data solutions that will help our teams to work smarter and more efficiently. You will also be responsible for supporting data science infrastructure development, as well as ensuring good data governance.

The JBA team includes a business analyst to help with eliciting subject matter expertise and understanding business problems, which allows data scientists to focus on core data science functions. We are working to build a mature data environment with our Lead Data Scientist, leveraging support from data engineers and data experts in the business. 

The teams are based in Wellington and Auckland and consist of Data Scientists and Business Analysts, and this role can be based in Auckland or Wellington.

 Mōu - About You

 Our ideal candidate will have:

• Experience as a data scientist in a complex environment
• Proven track record of delivering data science and analytics products that solve business problems
• Experience in data analytics, modelling, machine learning and application design using languages such as R and Python
• Experience in data visualisation, including tools such as Power BI
• Experience working in a public sector, environmental science or similar environment
• The ability to take colleagues and customers on a data science journey
• Experience delivering within a hybrid Agile environment
• Expert analytical thinking and problem-solving skills

 Ngā hua o te Mahi i te ManatÅ« Ahu Matua: - Benefits of working at MPI

• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
• Wellness benefit for employees
• Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes
• Comprehensive one-week MPI Induction Programme
• Parental leave ex-gratia payment
• Bi-annual MPI-paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames
• Flexible working. We support work life balance and flexible work arrangements whenever possible