ESR goes the extra mile to care for its staff, offering benefits from a 'flexible-by-default' working environment, subsidised health insurance, and some extra leave.

And for those earlier in their career journey, we have a specific group to support you and get your work life off to a great start.

All staff can access a range of benefits to help stay well, and manage the demands of a busy life.

• Great work-life flexibility, including flexible working arrangements

• Subsidised health insurance with Southern Cross including free virtual GP consultations with Care *HQ per member (unlimited)

• Free mental health wellbeing coach sessions with Raise

• Free Annual Health Check with MedPro Special deals for members on everyday health products and services

• Discounted travel insurance for personal travel.

• Life insurance and physical loss benefit 

• Access to special retail offers.

ESR employees are supported to stay well and enjoy well-deserved rest. This includes:

• Four weeks annual leave, plus two additional annual leave days and three additional ESR days (usually the three days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

• 15 days sick leave

• Service leave provisions after five years

• Parental leave payment ($500) on commencing parental leave, as well as a return to work payment on your return

ESR supports initiatives and benefits to further support staff well-being, including:

• Annual volunteer day to make a difference to an organisation or issue you care about in the community

• Free annual flu vaccinations

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a confidential and free counselling service.

As an organisation dedicated to knowledge and learning, we understand the importance of professional development for our teams. Opportunities include:

• Ongoing relevant professional training and development plans, agreed annually with your manager

• A library of online learning resources available to all staff

• Cultural capability workshops and upskilling

• Support toward professional memberships 

• A supportive and inclusive Early Career Group.

How to apply

Applications for vacancies need to be completed online at our Careers at GNS and ESR page. Click through from the job listing below.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your CV and a cover letter, outlining your motivations and interest in the role. You may also be required to upload copies of your qualifications or academic transcripts. 

Once your application is submitted, your application will be reviewed by one of our team or the hiring manager. If we want to connect with you about your application, it’s likely you’ll receive a call from us to introduce ourselves and the role in more detail. We will also undertake a brief phone interview to help us understand more about your experience and your expectations. 

Interviews

If you are selected for a face to face or online interview, our team will call you to arrange the details and to confirm your availability.

At the interview you will meet with the Hiring Manager and usually 1-2 other ESR staff members who have relevant expertise. The purpose of the interview is to get to know you better and understand how your skills, knowledge and experience align to the key competencies and requirements outlined in the position description.

Our interviews will be behaviourally based, which means we'll be asking you to tell us about your past experiences, what you’ve done, how you’ve acted and what results you produced and what you learned.

You’ll also have the opportunity to ask us questions to see if we’re right for you.

Final steps

We’ll contact you regarding the outcome of your interview, once we complete all interviews. 

If you are successful following the interview stage, we will request that you undertake pre-employment checks, which may include all or some of the following:

• Reference check

• Criminal background check (Ministry of Justice or NZ Police Criminal Record)

• Entitlement to work check

• Qualification check

• Drug screening check

• Pre-employment medical check for some roles/location.

Some roles also require more specific checks that you will be made aware of if applicable. If you’re the successful candidate, we’ll make you a verbal offer first and follow up with a formal written offer including all the details.

Your recruiter will keep in touch with you all the way through this process.

Then your induction into your new role begins – congratulations and welcome on board!

If you're applying from overseas without an eligible work visa, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. Before commencing the application process, we advise you to visit Immigration New Zealand or contact your nearest Immigration New Zealand branch for further information on migrating to New Zealand and visa eligibility.

For those currently based overseas who may wish to join us, we are an Immigration New Zealand Accredited Employer.

ESR partners with universities within New Zealand to provide opportunities for students to work with our scientists.
We occasionally have opportunities for students and interns, so we would recommend you register your details via our Introduce Yourself page. We will keep you informed when summer student or intern opportunities come up.