Veterinarian, VTS2 Predictive Circuit | Christchurch

Job Description

Veterinarian (VTS2 Predictive) Circuit

Role Type: Permanent Full-Time

Location: Canterbury

Salary: Range from $91,412 – $114,265 per annum plus additional benefits.

Starting salary will be dependent on skills and experience of the successful applicant.

• Are you a veterinarian interested in playing a vital role ensuring New Zealand's food and animal products are produced to the highest standards?
• Would you like to work for an organisation that offers career progression and interesting pathways for development?
• Do you pride yourself on your integrity and your ability to communicate well with internal and external stakeholders?

 We are looking for veterinarians who have great people skills and are passionate about supporting the success of our primary industries.

Kōreromō te tūranga - About the Role

The purpose of this role within Verification Services (VS) is to provide a range of food safety verification and certification services to support market access strategies and setting standards. 

Reporting to the Team Leader – Canterbury this role sits within the Circuit group of the Verification Services directorate. This role offers a great opportunity to step into verification from a clinical role, or alternatively will allow someone with existing verification experience to broaden their knowledge across a range of specialist areas. You will be based in Christchurch and travel throughout the Canterbury region to carry out verification functions, however, some travel outside the region may be required.

The role is diverse, so we are looking for someone who enjoys a fast-paced work environment, where no two days are the same.

Typically, in this role you would be expected to do the following:

• Ensure that import and export official assurances meet market access requirements and are raised in accordance with relevant regulations.
• Ensure efficient use of hours and resources to manage yourself and allocated circuit workload
• Complete verification and market access task accurately in accordance with New Zealand standards and agreed market access schedules.
• Carry out verification functions and activities to agreed schedules.

Mō tō mātou rōpū - About our team

New Zealand Food Safety – Verification Services' (VS) core purpose is to deliver independent, cost effective and high-quality verification, certification, inspection, and clearance programmes that meet all regulatory requirements.

This role will work with an experienced team of 11 verifiers who are based across the Canterbury region and support a variety of New Zealand producers.

Our people deliver a world-class, efficient, and cost-effective service to a broad range of animal product industries and sectors and facilitate not only food safety, but biosecurity and market access for animals and animal product exports. MPI VS is ISO17020 accredited.

Activities include:

• Verification and certification services to at least 2000 processing companies across the country. This not only includes primary food and secondary food producers but also storage and transport.
• Verifying containment and transitional facilities to ensure they are meeting the standards around unwanted and new organisms.
• Inspection and certification of live animals for import and export.

VS plays a key role in the Primary Sector industry and the circuit team delivers verification, certification, and inspection services nationally.

Ngā Pūkenga me ngā Wheako – Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will:

• Be a New Zealand registered Veterinarian (Or be able to obtain registration with VCNZ)
• Have effective verbal and written skills, and analytical reasoning skills
• Demonstrate integrity and trust, ethics and values, resilience, adaptability, and openness
• Verify that requirements and procedures are being followed
• Have experience persuading and influencing, teamwork, planning and organising
• Have computer literacy – can operate standard and customised software to an acceptable standard e.g. word-processing, excel, internet, email
• Have a full driver's license and ability to drive Class 1 vehicles.

It is advantageous if you have knowledge of HACCP/Quality Assurance in Food Safety however, this is included in your training.

Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua - Benefits of working at MPI

• You'll be given the opportunity to further develop technical and leadership skills with a comprehensive in-service training which includes interpersonal and communication skills, as these are critical aspects in this position
• Wellness benefit for employees including reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme (counselling support)
• Membership of the NZVA or appropriate alternative
• Annual payment for the Annual practicing certificate

Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro - Drug and Alcohol Screening

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred applicant/s for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site under the application process, on pre-employment checks page.

Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake? - Are you ready to make a difference?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whanau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values, your whakapapa; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Me pēhea te tuku tono - How to Apply

To view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the MPI Careers Site. For tracking and reporting purposes, all applications must be submitted through our online career's portal.

Applications close at midnight on 4^th June 2023 however suitable applicants will be considered and contacted before this date.

If you have any questions about the role, please email Louise.devine@mpi.govt.nz

Whāia ngā tūhononga ki MPI i konei – Follow MPI here

Links to Facebook, MPI Careers, LinkedIn, Twitter

The Ministry for Primary Industries is committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values inclusion and diversity. Your unique talents and experience will help us deliver exceptional services to our communities in Aotearoa. In return you'll enjoy an inclusive and flexible working environment in a diverse team of people while you're growing your career here in NZ and internationally. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so that we can assist you through the recruitment process.