Team Manager Wine Assurance | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Team Manager, Wine Assurance

Role type: Permanent, Full-time

Location: Wellington

Salary band, GSR C: $117,035 to $136,961 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga  

The Team Manager Wine Assurance is responsible for leading the wine assurance functions to ensure the systems for the production, processing and export of wine meet the expectation of the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI), New Zealanders and trading partners

This is an opportunity to lead a group of motivated individuals to assure the integrity, safety and reputation of New Zealand's wine export sector to help achieve their export and market access aspirations through the provision of a robust assurance frameworks.

In addition, you will contribute toward the wider work programme of the Plant, Wine and Organic Assurance group, including regulatory and technical advice to stakeholders, oversight of certification, monitoring and verification programmes, and working across the Assurance Directorate to ensure consistency of systems.

The duties are multifaceted with responsibilities stretching across assurance functions, stakeholder liaison and team management:

Assurance Duties:

• Provide technical and policy advice on the wine assurance framework and regulatory requirements to the Minister, Director-General and other relevant parties as required.
• Contribute to the prioritisation of the PWO (Wine Assurance) work programme.
• Monitor the performance of the wine assurance system.
• Maintain the certification systems to ensure that these support the provision of trusted export assurances for wine

Stakeholder Liaison:

• Provide advice about wine export requirements and the assurance frameworks to the recognised agencies and persons, including recognised wine laboratories, and to wine exporters
• Liaise with NZ Customs Service and MPI Policy & Trade to facilitate export of wine and entry into overseas markets.
• Manage the engagement with representative industry groups on projects to develop and enhance assurance frameworks including international standards.

Team Management:

• Provide leadership and management to all staff within the function by ensuring robust processes for communication, engagement, learning and development and performance management are implemented.
• Manage all resources and outcomes within the function through the effective implementation of organisational processes and procedures

About You - Mōu

We are looking for a technically gifted leader who can work with ambiguity across different disciplines and in the political sphere.

Our next Team Manager, Wine Assurance will be an excellent communicator (both written and verbal) who can lead a team with a supportive, collaborative style that supports both vertical and lateral stakeholders.

This role requires technical knowledge, accountability, diplomacy and the ability to motivate others to create tangible outcomes for NZ that support a $2 billion dollar export sector.

Excellent managerial skills coupled with critical and strategic thinking are key aspects of this role and our ideal candidate must demonstrate this. 

Our ideal candidate will also have/display:

• A tertiary level qualification e.g., horticultural, food or biological science, or chemistry or equivalent
•  Excellent conceptual and analytical skills and systems thinking ability
• A strong background in forming relationships with others and a proven ability to help bring people along in your way of thinking
• A proven ability to provide quality technical and regulatory advice to stakeholders
• 5-10 years government experience
• Knowledge of international agreements and standards for wine measures
• Knowledge of international audit/quality standards

You do not need to meet all of 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. 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

You will work within the Assurance directorate of New Zealand Food Safety. The Team Manager, Wine Assurance will have 4 reports, all Wellington based. This is a mix of advisers, senior advisers and support offices. You will report to the Manager, Plant & Wine Organic Assurance (PWO) and work closely with the Team Manager, Plant Assurance.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua  

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

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

• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes
• Professional membership reimbursement

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 Thursday 10th April 2025.

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

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