Dog Care Specialist | Auckland MPI Centre

Job Description

Dog Care Specialist

Role type: Permanent full-time

Location: Auckland

Salary Range: Border Clearance Services range: $59,688 - $61,522 dependant on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga 

The Dog Care Specialist will join our Detector Dog Programme (DDP), which is part of the Border Clearance Services Team within Biosecurity New Zealand.

You are primarily responsible for the healthcare and wellbeing of our detector dogs. You will love keeping our dogs in peak physical condition and taking care of their mental wellbeing and ensuring their environment and transportation is clean.  You will also assist with canine development.

We are looking for people who enjoy being outdoors in all weather & can physically be on their feet for most of their 8.5hr day. Have a repoire with animals & enjoy a hands-on role with a variety of working dogs from Beagles to Labradors.

About You - Mōu

You will have some experienced in handling canines of varying ages - adult canines through to pregnant dams and puppies. You will also have good experience and knowledge of canine healthcare & behaviour management.

Our ideal candidate will also bring;

• Proven work experience with dogs in a kennelling or similar environment
• Good oral & written communication skills & confident using a computer
• Physically fit & able to be on your feet for most of the 8.5 hour work day
• Team player but also able to work unsupervised when required
• A full clean driver's licence

The successful candidate will help to oversee the commercial cleaners and will be required to work weekends on a rostered basis and do overtime when required. 

Please note that applicants must be available to attend practical assessments as part of the recruitment process in Auckland.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Border Clearance Services directorate of the Ministry for Primary Industries is responsible for providing frontline clearance services at the border for imported goods, arriving international vessels and aircraft, international mail, international passengers and crew, and detection technology including X-Ray and detector dogs.

The Detector Dog Programme has a team of 7 Dog Care Specialists and are located at our Auckland MPI Centre in Mangere.

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.

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

• Additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation

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, 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.

Applications close at midnight on 14 May 2025

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

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