Food Compliance Officer | Tauranga

Job Description

Food Compliance Officer

Role type: Permanent

Location: Tauranga

Starting salary: $77,332 per annum

Applications from MPI employees with Affected status will be given priority consideration.

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

Food Compliance Officers contribute to MPI's vision by delivering effective food safety, suitability related compliance and enforcement services.

As a Food Compliance Officer, you will be responsible for working with members of the public and the food industry to resolve a range of food sector related issues. No two days are the same, as you'll have the opportunity to work in both the office and in the field while also meeting with new people regularly. This role will make a difference in helping to ensure only safe and suitable food is sold across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ensuring that all reported breaches of the Food Act, Wine Act and parts of the Animal Products Act are identified, assessed, and managed by the most appropriate intervention.

This will be achieved using education, monitoring, surveillance, intelligence, analysis, investigation and prosecution; and working with other New Zealand agencies and co-regulators on food safety and suitability issues including foodborne illness outbreaks, involving food sold and manufactured in New Zealand.

Mōu - About You

To be successful in this role we are looking for someone who can:

• Be a self-starter who can apply system thinking, along with analytical skills, to proactively identify areas of non-compliance.
• Build and sustain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Have ability to become warranted as a Food Safety Officer and other applicable warrants of authority e.g. Animal Products Act and Wine Act.
• Independently or with other Officers, prepare and present robust court prosecution cases where significant non-compliance is identified.
• Can carry out your role in a firm but fair manner.

Skills and experience we are looking for: 

• Experience in the food sector and/or food regulation and enforcement
• Sound judgement and analytical skills, with particular emphasis on application in a regulatory and compliance environment
• Proven communication and presentation skills
• Commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity
• Practical working knowledge of the laws under which investigations and compliance activities operate.

Qualifications: 

• Tertiary qualifications in food science, environmental/public health, or relevant science disciplines and/or equivalent regulatory, compliance and enforcement experience

If you are passionate about food safety and are comfortable in dealing with both industry and the public, we want to hear from you.

You do not need to meet all the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team  

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture. We are fair in our behaviour and our policies promote equal opportunity for all. We provide numerous training programmes and opportunities for people to continuously improve their skill sets and keep up to date with global best practices. MPI has a focus on career pathways so this is the first step in your career with us and we will help you grow.

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS)| Haumaru Kai Aotearoa leads the development, implementation and oversight of the regulatory and compliance system that underpins our impressive food economy. Ensuring producers and growers have the best opportunities to thrive and grow their business leads through to having consumers have the knowledge that the food in front of them is safe, sustainable and the best product for them, their whānau and friends. NZFS is a business unit of the Ministry for Primary Industries.

We are dedicated to protecting New Zealand's food supply. This exciting opportunity gives you a chance to be part of Food Compliance Services where you can use your unique blend of technical and personal skills to work with stakeholders in a sector crucial to New Zealand's national interests.

Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI 

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most sustainable provider of high-value food and primary products.

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

• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
• Mentoring and coaching programmes

Wā Mahi Ngāwari - Flexible Working

We support flexible working arrangements and are happy to discuss these options with you.

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, here.

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, whānau 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 Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; 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.

Applications close at midnight on 23rd September, 2024.

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

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