Migrant Worker Welfare & Liaison Coordinator

Niwa; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

BioGiene seeks a Migrant Worker Welfare Liaison Coordinator to support Timorese AEWV workers arriving in New Zealand. The role combines welfare, administrative duties, and cultural liaison to ensure successful settlement and integration.

You will coordinate accommodation, transport, and travel, while maintaining compliance and delivering timely reports to management. Strong English and Tetun skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Fluent in English and Tetun (written and verbal).
• Experience with migrant, international, or culturally diverse workforces.
• Practical experience in NZ meat/food industry cleaning, hygiene, or processing environments.
• Strong administration, record management and compliance skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate accommodation, transport, travel arrangements and settlement support for workers relocating to NZ.
• Act as liaison between AEWV workers, BioGiene, immigration advisors and government agencies.
• Provide welfare, pastoral care and confidential support to workers.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare routine reports for management.
• Assist with onboarding, training and cultural integration activities.

Skills

English–Tetun fluency

Migrant worker welfare

Stakeholder coordination

Administration

Education

Tertiary qualification in Tourism, Hospitality or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Migrant Worker Welfare Liaison Coordinator

The Administration Liaison Officer is responsible for coordinating communication and support between AEWV workers, management, external stakeholders, and government agencies, while providing administrative, welfare, and pastoral care services. The role supports employee wellbeing, migrant worker settlement and integration, compliance requirements, workforce engagement, and operational effectiveness, ensuring employees receive appropriate support to succeed both at work and within the wider community.

JOB DESCRIPTION

BioGiene is a leading provider in outsourced hygiene and sanitation solutions to the food and further processing industry. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable, high quality and ISO Accredited food-industry cleaning solutions. BioGiene is committed to delivering a service of the utmost quality, deploying our experienced personnel to provide superior results while maintaining the highest standards of safety and sustainability.

The Administration, Welfare and Liaison Officer is primarily focused on supporting Timorese workers employed under labour mobility programmes and the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework. The position combines worker welfare, pastoral care, accommodation and travel coordination, cultural liaison, compliance administration, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful worker integration and operational outcomes.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

LIAISON AND COORDINATION

• Serve as the primary point of contact between AEWV workers, BioGiene, Immigration Advisors and relevant government agencies.
• Collect AEWV workers from the airport on arrival to New Zealand and drop off at accommodation.
• Facilitate effective communication to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and aligned on program objectives and expectations.
• Coordinate meetings, briefings, and discussions with various stakeholders to address issues, concerns, and program updates.
• Coordinate pre-departure communication and onboarding activities for Timorese workers travelling to New Zealand.
• Assist workers with travel arrangements, accommodation placement, transport coordination, and settlement requirements upon arrival.
• Maintain effective working relationships with recruitment partners, immigration advisers, accommodation providers, transport providers, and relevant government agencies.
• Support workers through cultural transition and integration into New Zealand workplaces and communities.
• Provide language and cultural liaison support between AEWV workers, site management, external providers, and support agencies.
• Coordinate worker movements between accommodation, transport providers, training venues, and operational sites as required.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

• Source accommodation in the relevant site regions for AEWV workers moving to NZ.
• Manage and maintain accurate records of AEWV workers, including employment contracts, personal information, and compliance documentation.
• Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations, and documentation related to the AEWV program.
• Handle day-to-day administrative tasks such as data entry, filing, and correspondence.
• Translate company policies, onboarding materials, training resources, welfare communications, and operational documentation between English and Tetun as required.
• Assist with the interpretation of verbal communications between management and employees where language support is required.

COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING

• Ensure that all activities related to the AEWV program comply with relevant laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
• Monitor the working conditions and welfare of AEWV workers, addressing any issues or concerns promptly and effectively.
• Conduct regular audits and checks to ensure host employers adhere to program requirements and standards.

WELLFARE, WELLBEING AND EMPLOYEE SUPPORT

• Provide confidential and culturally appropriate support to employees experiencing personal, family, financial, health, workplace, or settlement-related challenges.
• Act as a trusted first point of contact for employee welfare concerns, promoting early intervention and access to appropriate support services.
• Support AEWV and migrant workers with settlement, accommodation, transport, banking, IRD registration, healthcare, community connections, and adjustment to New Zealand workplace culture.
• Foster positive working relationships and an inclusive workplace culture by supporting communication, cultural integration, and constructive resolution of workplace concerns.
• Regularly engage with employees and managers to identify emerging wellbeing issues and provide guidance on sensitive people matters.
• Monitor employee welfare and wellbeing, escalating urgent concerns and supporting staff following incidents, injuries, or significant workplace events in line with company policies.
• Work collaboratively with HR, Operations, Immigration Advisors, Biowize, and external agencies to meet worker welfare, pastoral care, and immigration-related obligations.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records, ensuring compliance with privacy requirements and providing wellbeing insights and reporting as required.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

• Coordinate and facilitate training programs for AEWV workers, ensuring they receive necessary skills and knowledge for their roles.
• Support the development of cultural awareness programs to help workers integrate into the New Zealand workplace.
• Support BioGiene operations with any administrative training and IT support that the sites may require by conducting virtual training via TEAMs when and as required.

REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION

• Prepare and submit regular reports on program progress, worker welfare, and compliance to management and relevant authorities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all communications, incidents, and actions taken.
• Submit a weekly expenditure report on business travel, additional training costs and assist with compiling ADHOC reporting from departments as requested by your direct report.
• Identify opportunities for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the AEWV program, endeavour to present at least 3 new initiatives annually that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.
• Implement best practices and recommend changes to policies or procedures to enhance program outcomes.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROLE

• Fluency in both English and Tetun (written and verbal) due to the role's responsibility for supporting Timorese workers throughout the onboarding and settlement process in New Zealand.
• Demonstrated experience working with migrant, international, or culturally diverse workforces.
• Practical experience operating within the New Zealand, Meat & food industry cleaning, hygiene, sanitation, food manufacturing, or food processing environment.
• Experience coordinating accommodation, transport, travel arrangements, and settlement support for workers relocating to New Zealand.
• Strong administration, record management, reporting, and compliance skills.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with employees, management, government agencies, immigration representatives, and external stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust across different cultures and communities.
• Knowledge of employment legislation, AEWV requirements, migrant worker welfare obligations, and workplace compliance requirements is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to accurately translate written correspondence, operational documents, and employee communications between English and Tetun.
• Strong understanding of cultural and language considerations relevant to supporting Tetun‑speaking employees.
• Must have Drivers licence, passport, and appropriate Visa to travel between NZ and Timor Leste (if required).

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

• Experience supporting offshore labour recruitment and mobilisation programmes.
• Experience coordinating worker arrivals, inductions, travel logistics, accommodation, and pastoral care arrangements.
• Existing professional networks or demonstrated experience working with government departments, immigration authorities, embassies, labour mobility programmes, or community organisations in Timor‑Leste and/or New Zealand.
• Strong understanding of Timorese culture and the challenges associated with relocating workers to New Zealand.
• Ability to communicate in additional languages such as Portuguese and Indonesian.
• Experience providing welfare, pastoral care, or worker advocacy services.
• Experience facilitating cross-cultural communication, training, or orientation programmes.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Tertiary qualification in Tourism, Hospitality, Destination Management, Property Management, Accommodation Management, Travel and Tourism, Business Administration, Community Services, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Equivalent practical experience in workforce mobilisation, employee welfare, accommodation coordination, or migrant worker support may also be considered.
• Attention to Detail: Ensuring accuracy in documentation and communications.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds of AEWV workers.
• Adaptability: Flexibility in responding to changing needs and situations.
• Conflict Resolution: Ability to mediate and resolve disputes effectively.
• Teamwork: Working collaboratively with various stakeholders to achieve common goals.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Frequent domestic travel throughout New Zealand is required to support worker onboarding, accommodation inspections, welfare visits, operational requirements, and stakeholder engagement.
• The role requires flexibility to work across both day and night shift operations to support worker welfare, onboarding activities, operational requirements, and site engagement.
• Overnight travel may be required from time to time.
• Flexible working hours may be necessary to accommodate worker arrivals, operational schedules, and business requirements.