Simon Childerhouse with a Hooker's sea
lion pup, Enderby Island
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is committed to operating a recruitment, selection and appointment process that ensures staff are appointed through a fair and open process.
The Department must fulfil its ‘Good Employer’ responsibilities in terms of the State Sector Act 1988 and work towards improving the representation of members of EEO groups on its staff before 2010 as set out in:
- DOC's People Diversity Strategy, and
- New Zealand Government’s EEO Policy.
Accordingly, when advertising vacant positions, managers are to take an approach that ensures applications will be received from a diverse range of applicants.
When selecting an applicant for appointment, the selection must be the applicant who is, on merit, deemed to be the applicant “best suited” to meet the specific needs of the position.
Policy and procedures are in place to help managers achieve these goals and apply to all staff recruitment situations.
Legislation
A number of important Acts of Parliament set the framework for the way the DOC must operate in the area of recruitment, selection and appointment.
Legislation that affects the recruitment, selection and appointment process include the following:
- State Sector Act 1988
- Privacy Act 1993
- Official Information Act 1982
- Employment Relations Act 2000
- Human Rights Act 1993
- Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987
- Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
- Immigration Act 1987
- And their various amendments.
All applicants have an expectation that their applications and the information they provide will be obtained, held and treated in a confidential manner. At all times, all information pertaining to recruitment, selection, and appointment is treated in terms of the Privacy Act and the Official Information Act.
The process
There are eight steps in the recruitment, selection and appointment process. They are:
- analyse needs, determine employment option
- prepare position description and seek approval to recruit
- advertise vacancy and prepare for interviews
- receive applications and shortlist applicants
- interviews, assessments and `evaluation of applicants
- develop recommendation and write up
- appointment and job offer
- close the vacancy
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