Closing date: Friday 24 May 2024
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union represents professional career firefighters, emergency call-centre dispatchers, firefighter trainers, advisors in risk reduction and community resilience, volunteer support officers, those working in health, safety and wellbeing and various other roles in Fire and Emergency NZ.
This role is primarily to support the National Secretary and the National Committee in representing the interests by protecting and preserving the members’ health, safety and wellbeing and employment terms and conditions.
The National Office is based in Petone and the ability to travel to represent members will be necessary. Ideally the successful applicant would be available to work full time from the Petone office, however flexibility in hours and location may be considered.
The remuneration package will be dependent on the experience, skills and qualifications of the successful candidate. We offer income protection insurance, and match Kiwisaver contributions up to 8% in addition to salary.
Applicants for this position must be a NZ citizen or have permanent residency and must have a valid driving licence.
Our ideal candidate will have a passion for representing and supporting union members through their workplace and employment matters and will be able to readily adapt their knowledge to the context of the firefighting industry.
The focus of the role is to:
- Advocate and support members through complaints, investigations and health and safety/injury management processes. This requires the identification of the legal rights, applying a strategy consistent with the union’s objectives, responsibility for clear and accurate correspondence, representation at meetings and in other forums, and strong case management processes.
- Support elected union representatives with industrial, employment and health and safety issues
- Advise members on their contractual rights and obligations including providing support and advocacy as required
- Identify matters of national significance to ensure consistency in advice and strategy across the country
- Assist the National Secretary as required including bargaining, campaigning, and matters of national significance including coordination of union resources.
Necessary skills and attributes
- A committed trade unionist that understands workplace relations and union representation
- Sound knowledge of key aspects of employment law and health and safety legislation.
- Experience in managing and advocating personal cases including balancing the caseload to provide effective support
- Experience in mediations.
- Experience in appearing before the Employment Relations Authority would be an advantage.
- A self-starter able to maintain motivation and energy when working in a very small team
- Strong communication (written and oral) skills
- Strong electronic and administration/organisational skills
- A relevant tertiary qualification (law, health and safety, dispute resolution, labour studies) would be an advantage.
Please send a cover letter and curriculum vitae to wellington@nzpfu.org.nz no later than 5pm on Friday 24 May 2024.
Contact person: Wattie Watson