Adviser Plant Products - Standards and Imports Pathways | Wellington City

Job Description

Adviser Plant Products

Role type: Permanent full-time

Location: Wellington

Salary band & range: General Salary Range F- $76,463 – $101,967 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

This Adviser role is in the Plant Product Imports team within Biosecurity New Zealand. This role will give you the satisfaction of playing a pivotal role in growing our economy, you will be involved in in providing technical risk analyses to support the development and review of import requirements and standards.

You will:

• Be responsible for managing the biosecurity risk to New Zealand for imported fresh fruit and vegetables, cut flowers and other plant products.
• Have the opportunity to apply your science and technical expertise in plant protection and risk management, and
• Use your knowledge and/or experience of stakeholder engagement and project management to support consultation on proposed import requirements and standards.

About You – Mōu

You will bring your horticultural or plant biological sciences degree (or related discipline) or work experience operating in a regulatory environment.  You will also be able to demonstrate the following skills, attributes and knowledge:

• Gathering, organising, analysing, summarising and communicating technical information to meet the needs of different audiences
• Managing competing priorities to complete assigned work
• Providing technical information for bilateral discussions with overseas trading partners
• Knowing/understanding crop production systems and how pests are managed in these systems
• Problem solving and a ‘can do' attitude
• Ability to build positive relationships and work collaboratively within a team environment

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 and are able to learn quickly. 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Plant Product Imports team are motivated technical experts who enjoy supporting each other to achieve great outcomes for New Zealand. We balance both the measures needed to ensure biosecurity risks are managed with keeping trade moving for imports of fresh fruit, vegetables and other plant products. Our work is crucial as it is used to leverage better access for export of New Zealand primary products around the world.

This team is part of the Standards & Import Pathways group, and we also work closely with MPI colleagues at the border, in the laboratory, and those who negotiate market access with overseas markets.

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
• Annual Wellness payment
• Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation

Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake? - Are you ready to make a difference?
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 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 Wednesday 27 August 2025.

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

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