Veterinary Technical Supervisor 1 | Rotorua

Job Description

Supervising Veterinarian (Veterinary Technical Supervisor 1)

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Rotorua (PH23 – Silver Fern Farms)

Salary range: VTS Salary Range 7: $110,644 to $138,304  per annum

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

In addition to salary, we offer overtime, penal time and shift allowances.

About the Role - Kōrero mō te tūranga

If you are you are a veterinary verifier looking for the next step in your career, we have an opportunity available for a Supervising Veterinarian (VTS1) based at Silver Fern Farms in Rotorua.

With magical geysers, adrenaline-pumping activities and Māori culture, Rotorua is Aotearoa's geothermal heartland and adventure playground for all things outdoors!

You could spend your days off bathing in nutrient-rich waters and mud at Hell's Gate; New Zealand's most unique geothermal reserve.

Or, if you are seeking an adrenaline rush, you can mountain bike down the numerous trails of Whakarewarewa Forest surrounded by Californian Redwoods.

Rotorua is a destination where natural beauty meets adventure, creating an unforgettable living experience which has something for everyone!

As a VTS1, you will have sole charge of SFF Rotorua which is a Deer/Venison plant that operates a day shift only, 5 days a week, and operates on occasional Saturdays as overtime in the height of the processing season.

This position would be a great opportunity for a veterinarian with a demonstrated track record of effective communication and stakeholder relationship skills.

MPI Verification Services (VS) provides a range of food safety and biosecurity verification and certification services to support market access strategies and setting standards.

Our core purpose is to deliver independent, cost-effective, and high-quality verification, certification, inspection, and clearance programs to ensure operators meet all regulatory requirements. We are committed to providing a range of food safety and biosecurity verification and certification services to at least 2,000 processing companies across New Zealand, including the meat, seafood, game, and dairy industries.

This position works to a 5-day x 8 hours roster. For most of the year, shifts will include Monday - Friday, with occasional Saturday work.

Within this role you will be expected to:

• Ensure that official assurances issued for export products are valid and withstand third party reviews through audit and verification of the operators and their processes.
• Ensure that operators put into place timely and effective corrective and preventative actions.
• Responsibly manage your workload, including;
• Recognising workloads and ensure that tasks are completed accurately and in a timely manner and ensure efficient use of resources and hours.
• Work successfully with & support the regional MPI team, as well as the wider MPI team such as the technical team and other external stakeholders such as farmers.
• Work with operator personnel of different levels from plant manager to frontline staff and will be able to tailor your communication with them effectively.
• Attend and facilitate internal, external and market access reviews. Demonstrate the process to these reviewers and facilitate, in conjunction with the operator and MPI, resolution of any review findings.

About the Team - Mō te peka

This position reports to the Team Manager Establishments Tauranga. The VTS1 work covers processing times on plant. Any overtime is compensated and early starts, or late finishes are recognised with penal time payments, as well as shift leave accumulation.

The role sits within the close-knit Tauranga team which looks after seven plants.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

Our role includes seizing export opportunities for our food and fibre sector, improving sector productivity, ensuring the food we produce is safe, increasing sustainable resource use, and protecting New Zealand from biological risk.

To find out more about the Ministry and what we do please click here.

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

• Professional membership and annual practicing certificate reimbursement
• Annual Wellness payment
• Additional MPI leave days

About You - Mōu

The successful candidate will:

• Be a New Zealand registered Veterinarian (Or be able to obtain registration with VCNZ)
• Hold a full New Zealand driver's licence (or be able to obtain a full NZ licence by converting a current overseas driver's licence)
• Experience as an establishment VTS is preferred or demonstrated experience working as a senior or supervisory veterinarian.
• Have verbal and written skills, and analytical reasoning skills
• Experience of demonstrating resilience and working under pressure and managing stakeholder relationships
• Persuading and influencing, teamwork, planning and organising
• Computer literacy – can operate standard and customised software to an acceptable standard e.g. word-processing, excel, internet, email, database, secure sites, electronic certification, residues etc

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

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

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.

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 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” 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 11:59pm on Wednesday 23rd July 2025. 

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