Team Leader Detector Dog Trainer | Auckland MPI Centre

Job Description

Team Leader Detector Dog Trainer

Role type: Fixed term/Secondment until January 2027

Location: Auckland

Salary band & range: General Salary Range E: $87,008 to $101,621 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

As the Team Leader Detector Dog Trainer, you will contribute to Border Clearance Services work programmes ensuring the smooth operation of the Detector Dog Programme nationwide and contributing to planning, improvement processes, and special projects.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the training and development of Detector Dog Handlers by designing and delivering effective methods based on learning needs and international best practice.
• Taking responsibility for sourcing, selecting, and assessing Detector Dogs while supporting their wellbeing through research-based training and welfare practices.
• Managing training standards and competency assessments.
• Maintaining key documentation such as manuals, Standard Operating Procedures, and providing technical advice both internally and externally.
• Building effective relationships with internal staff and external partners.
• Leading your team to ensure strong performance processes, ensuring compliance with key policies and delivering services that meet organisational standards.

About You - Mōu

You're someone who brings a strong continuous improvement mindset while always looking for ways to enhance systems and processes. With proven experience in leading teams, you know how to inspire performance and foster a positive team culture. Ideally, you will bring experience in mentoring or coaching to support the development of others and contribute to capability growth across the organisation.

You will also bring:

• Experience in building strong relationships and consulting with a wide range of external stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes.
• Knowledge of dog training, behaviour, and animal welfare requirements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective time management and organisational skills.
• Full New Zealand driver licence.

You will be required to complete Police Vetting and a Ministry of Justice check as part of our onboarding process to ensure you are eligible for access to the airport.

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 be based at the MPI Centre in Mangere, Auckland and will lead a team of Detector Dog Trainers. You will be working alongside the kennel team, which consists of a Team Leader, Dog Care Specialists and approximately 60 biosecurity detector dogs. 

The programme is responsible for training detector dog handlers and their dogs to detect biosecurity risk goods associated with air and sea passengers' cargo and the Auckland Processing Centre (Mail).

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

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

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred candidates(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, here.

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 26 August 2025.

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

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