Principal Adviser National Exercises | Wellington City
| Category: | Advisors |
| Position Type: | Fixed Term |
| Attachments: | Principal Adviser National Exercises JD.doc (Word, 219KB) |
| Application Close Date: | 25-Jul-2025 |
Job Description
Principal Adviser National Exercises
Role type: Fixed term full-time until 30 June 2026
Location: Wellington
Salary band & range: General Salary Range C - $119,376 to $160,026 depending on skills and experience
About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga
This Principal Adviser role will work within the Biosecurity Intelligence, Systems & Response (BISR) directorate reporting to the Assistant Commissioner Compliance & Response.
You will be responsible for developing and delivering an all of government exercise on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). You will leverage from existing efforts of others within MPI and will guide a small team to successful delivery in 2026.
This will involve:
- Developing and managing relationships within MPI and across the government sector.
- Leading and coordinating arrangements for the national exercise with the National Resilience System.
- Thinking strategically to identify risks and opportunities, using a pragmatic customer-centric approach.
- Ensure implementation of the work programme is based on well-researched assessment and monitoring of MPI's capability and capacity to respond.
About You - Mōu
You will be adaptable and bring the ability to thrive in a complex and sometimes ambiguous environment. Our ideal candidate will be team players who are resourceful, have initiative and a proven ability to deliver results. You will be able to think creatively, work under pressure, and prioritise your work. You will bring a high degree of enthusiasm and energy to the role.
Additionally, you will have:
- Proven ability to lead the planning and delivery of large scale exercises within a national framework.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Biosecurity and emergency response in a government agency.
- Proven experience as natural collaborator, and in navigating relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong written and verbal communication.
- Strong briefing and facilitation skills.
- Experience working in a government agency or similar.
About the Team - Mō tō mātou rōpū
The Biosecurity, Intelligence, Systems and Response Directorate forms part of the Biosecurity New Zealand Branch and is responsible for bringing together critical capability to effectively prepare and manage responses, and to co-ordinate recovery and long-term management activities, as well as compensation resulting from actions taken to manage biosecurity incursions to those economically impacted. As a directorate we work across biosecurity, food, primary production and trade systems.
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.
Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua
- Up to three additional (MPI holidays) leave days
- Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
- Wellness benefit for employees
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 25 July 2025
If you have any questions about the role, please email melissa.heaney@mpi.govt.nz
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