Job Description
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
- Excellent opportunity for personal and professional development
- Work in a dynamic setting that is fast-paced and adaptable
- Salary range $121,769 - $135,299, actual salary dependent on skills and experience
Are you a forward-thinking, technically excellent engineer who is committed to influencing policy, innovating practice, and impacting lives?
Mō tēnei tūranga - about the role
Our Senior Fire Engineers play a vital role in delivering superior technical support services that directly contribute to reducing fire risks across New Zealand. Operating as a member of the Fire Engineering Unit, which sits within the Fire and Emergency National Risk Reduction team, this role requires a high level of technical expertise, a focus on outcomes that enable frontline services, and a commitment to public safety.
Key Responsibilities:
Providing clear and well-reasoned technical advice to internal and external stakeholders including the Fire and Emergency National Risk Reduction team and other regulatory agencies.
Delivered through:
- Contributing to/leading project teams that provide strategic and technical input into a range of Fire and Emergency operational and risk mitigation initiatives.
- Using lessons learned in the built environment space to drive change using data gathered from real fire events, trends observed from review of building consent designs and purposeful engagement with key stakeholders etc.
- Embodying our knowledge-leveraging culture where subject matter expertise is recognised, valued, and shared to enable our team to deliver on our stated outcomes.
- Working within, and improving upon, existing policy, process and procedures that enable the delivery of the work of the Fire Engineering Unit.
- Undertaking in-person site visits and building reviews to inform subsequent risk reduction activities.
Ko tāu nā i tēnei tūranga - What you'll bring to the role:
The primary objective of a Fire Engineer at Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is to contribute to the continuous improvement of the built environment by advancing fire safety practices. This involves proactively identifying opportunities for enhancement within both the fire engineering discipline and Fire and Emergency's broader risk reduction strategies.
This role offers a unique opportunity for a fire engineer to play a leading role in shaping the future of fire safety in New Zealand. It enables meaningful influence across the full spectrum of fire engineering practice—from technical assessments and regulatory review to contributing to national-level policy, research, and innovation.
To be successful in this role, we'd expect you will
- Have a masters level qualification in fire engineering plus a minimum of 7 years' experience in a fire engineering role and already have or be working towards Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) status.
- Find drive and purpose from working in an outcome-focussed, structured and highly accountable environment.
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills and be adept at conveying complex technical information to diverse non-technical audiences.
- Have deep subject matter expertise in a fire engineering sub-discipline (or related field) which you actively maintain and further develop, and routinely share with our team.
- Exhibit strong collaborative and interpersonal skills, readily building purposeful relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and leveraging your self-awareness to work effectively within diverse teams.
- Have a self-starting, proactive approach to identifying and championing continuous improvements to our existing policies, processes and procedures to optimise outcome delivery.
- Demonstrate big-picture, problem-solving and systems-thinking skills that can influence project, organisational and legislative change.
- Demonstrate your ability to operate effectively in grey areas by adapting and navigating rules with practical wisdom to facilitate outcomes that serve the greater good.
He aha ngā painga o tēnei mahi mōu? – Why you will enjoy working here
As an employer, Fire and Emergency New Zealand is committed to providing an enjoyable and challenging work environment with a focus on ongoing personal development.
Benefits
- Matched Kiwi Saver employer contributions of up to 6%
- Life and income protection insurance for eligible employees
The salary range for this role is $121,769 - $135,299 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.
Ko wai mātou - who are we?
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is a Crown Entity responsible for reducing unwanted fires, responding to structural and vegetation fires and other emergencies including motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, hazardous substance related incidents, natural disasters, and supporting increased community resilience.
Our vision is to build stronger communities and protect what matters most to the people within them. We are proud to be recognised as New Zealand's most trusted public sector agency. Our values reflect what our people believe is core to who we are and the organisation we aspire to be.
- We Do the Right Thing – Kia Tika
- We Serve and Support – Manaakitanga
- We Are Better Together – Whanaungatanga
- We Strive to Improve – Auahatanga
Ko te tono mai - How to apply:
Come join us - we are excited about the future of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and we'd love you to be part of it! We value diversity as a strength and welcome applicants that can help bring a difference to our organisation.
If this sounds like you, apply now. To download a copy of our position description please visit our vacancy page on our FireJobs website.
If you have any specific questions about this role please email nhqjobs@fireandemergency.nz
However please note, applications sent via email will not be accepted.
Applications close 01st July 2025
Please note: Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory for this role.