Compliance Officer - Vessels - Earth Sciences

Science New Zealand; Lower Hutt; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave entitlements

Employee benefits

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Research Vessels New Zealand (RVNZ) is seeking a Compliance Officer to ensure our fleet of research vessels meets national and international maritime regulatory requirements. You will maintain compliance systems, coordinate inspections, and support operations in a dynamic maritime environment.

The role requires experience in regulated settings, strong written communication, and a proactive, collaborative approach to stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• Experience in a regulated environment.
• Excellent written communication skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret regulations, policies and procedures and apply them practically.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining and improving compliance systems, documentation, and processes to support safe and compliant vessel operations.
• Coordinating regulatory audits, inspections, certifications, and compliance reporting activities.
• Managing document control, ensuring records are current, secure, and audit ready.
• Monitoring changes to maritime regulations and supporting their implementation across the organisation.
• Assisting with the development and delivery of compliance-related training and awareness initiatives.
• Providing compliance and administrative support to the Operations and Engineering Managers.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen operational compliance and efficiency.
• Providing backup support for crew administration, including timesheet processing and employment documentation.
• Building effective relationships with vessel crews, shore-based staff, regulatory authorities, and certification bodies.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Documentation control

Stakeholder management

Audit coordination

Maritime knowledge

Job description

Job / Position Specific Summary Do you have a keen eye for detail and a passion for ensuring organisations meet regulatory requirements? Research Vessels New Zealand (RVNZ) is seeking a Compliance Officer to help ensure our fleet of research vessels operate safely and efficiently. We're looking for a Compliance Officer who thrives on maintaining robust systems, improving processes, and supporting operational teams in a dynamic maritime environment. Working closely with the Operations and Engineering Managers, you'll maintain critical compliance systems, coordinate inspections, and help ensure our vessels continue to meet both national and international regulatory maritime requirements. This position sits within Research Vessels New Zealand (RVNZ), a subsidiary of Earth Sciences New Zealand.

If you enjoy improving processes, creating order from complexity, and making a meaningful contribution to an organisation with real-world impact,

Key Responsibilities Include

• Maintaining and improving compliance systems, documentation, and processes to support safe and compliant vessel operations.
• Coordinating regulatory audits, inspections, certifications, and compliance reporting activities.
• Managing document control, ensuring records are current, secure, and audit ready.
• Monitoring changes to maritime regulations and supporting their implementation across the organisation.
• Assisting with the development and delivery of compliance-related training and awareness initiatives.
• Providing compliance and administrative support to the Operations and Engineering Managers.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen operational compliance and efficiency.
• Providing backup support for crew administration, including timesheet processing and employment documentation.
• Building effective relationships with vessel crews, shore-based staff, regulatory authorities, and certification bodies.

You’ll Bring The Following

• Experience in a compliance, document control, or administrative support role within a regulated environment.
• Excellent written communication skills and strong attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to interpret regulations, policies, and procedures and apply them in a practical operational setting.
• A proactive, collaborative approach with strong stakeholder relationship and communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience in the maritime, engineering, or other regulated industries.
• Knowledge of maritime regulatory frameworks and document management systems.

What We Offer

• Varied, challenging and important work with talented colleagues in an organisation devoted to earth science.
• A high performing organisation with a focus on employee development and wellbeing
• Generous leave entitlements and employee benefits

About Us

Research Vessels New Zealand (RVNZ) is a subsidiary of Earth Sciences New Zealand. RVNZ owns and operates a fleet of three research vessels out of Port Wellington that provide world-class environmental monitoring and research platforms. Our busy onshore team is based at Earth Sciences New Zealand Greta Point site in Wellington and provides full operational support to ensure all vessel, crew and voyage requirements are met. Earth Sciences New Zealand is a new entity created from the merger of NIWA and GNS. We’re proud of our contribution to science and innovation in Aotearoa and you’ll be part of a collaborative and purpose-driven organisation where your work has impact. To deliver the science needed to achieve meaningful change, we are committed to providing the best for our people, strengthening domestic and international collaborations, partnering with Māori, supporting Pacific resilience, leveraging advanced technologies, and investing wisely in essential assets and infrastructure. We also uphold our environmental responsibilities and maintain a strong focus on financial sustainability, ensuring our work continues to make a lasting difference. We don't expect perfection in our candidates - if you think you have what it takes, but don't meet every point in the position description,