Analyst - Farm Monitoring & Benchmarking | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Analyst – Farm Monitoring & Benchmarking

Role type: Fixed Term, full-time until January 2026

Location: Wellington City

Salary band & range: GSR F $74,964 to $99,968 depending on skills and experience

(Salary midpoint is $87,466 per annum)

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Farm Monitoring & Benchmarking Team (FMB) within the Strategy, Insights & Evidence Directorate are after a passionate Analyst to cover a parental leave until January 2026.

The team sources and uses farm-level data across New Zealand's key primary production sectors to understand producer-level performance in any given year and over time. The data analysis our team provides delivers insights and understanding of the key drivers of profitability, and how New Zealand farmers and growers fare and thrive under changing circumstances.

This role requires a combination of technical skills, the ability to identify and gather user requirements, knowledge of environmental and economic data systems and tools, and the ability to engage with multiple stakeholders to successfully deliver insight that supports decision-making. Knowledge and understanding of New Zealand's farming and growing systems will be an advantage.

As part of this role, you will:

• Produce outputs as required, e.g. quartile analysis of vineyard datasets, creation of physical, financial and environmental benchmarking indicators for pastoral sector, etc;
• Develop high-quality outputs that can be easily understood by decision-makers and stakeholders;
• Disseminate data in innovative, interactive, and user-friendly ways;
• Enable more efficient data management within a technology-constrained environment;
• Liaise with key stakeholders to provide data in a meaningful and timely way.

If you are looking for a role with multiple avenues to demonstrate your data capabilities as well as develop in-depth knowledge of New Zealand's primary sectors data landscape, we'd love to hear from you. 

About You

We are looking for innovative, positive, and adaptable candidates with the technical knowledge and engagement skills to contribute to our ambitious primary sector economic, production & environmental data and analytic work programme.

We have a rich database and a wide scope, so we are looking for someone who will engage actively, think critically and creatively, and who is willing to ask challenging questions.  You will be comfortable working through ambiguity and demonstrate a drive to grow and develop within your role.

We are looking for a diversity of people, experiences, and ideas. Our ideal candidate would be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Strong analytical skills and relevant experience;
• Experience contributing to data and technical projects, including demonstrated experience in delivering and presenting analytical findings to a non-technical audience;
• High level of proficiency in Excel;
• Familiarity with PowerBI and SQL database;
• Familiarity with the use of OverseerFM and/or other environmental models or tools;
• Technical understanding of economic, production and environmental aspects of New Zealand's primary production systems and the drivers of farm-level performance;
• Experience in using farm benchmarking data is ideal, but not essential. (e.g., DairyBase, B+LNZ economic survey, vineyard monitoring data etc);
• Innovative thinking including ability to bring fresh thinking, and being receptive to other ideas and ways of working;
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to cultivate relationships and partnerships;
• Strong attention to detail.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

Policy and Trade provides sector-level strategic thinking and evidence-based advice for effective government decision-making for systems related to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, biosecurity, food, animal welfare and rural communities. Our people are our greatest resource. They are collaborative, supportive, passionate, and are highly skilled in a range of economic, science and social disciplines.

You will be based in our Wellington office, reporting to the Manager Benchmarking & Inventory and working alongside a high performing group where team culture plays a key role in their success. The team supports policy analysis and advice and enables rapid evidence-backed response in situations such as adverse events.

This team are committed to creating an environment that promotes teamwork and collaboration to ensure that everyone is contributing to our success and achieving collective goals.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources.

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

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 Sunday 6 April.

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

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