Senior Adviser - Animal & Animal Products | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Adviser – Animal & Animal Products

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Wellington

General Salary Range D: $100,934 - $135,076 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Senior Adviser role is part of the Biosecurity Import & Export Standards directorate, and reports to the Team Manger Animal & Animal Products.

You will be responsible for scoping information and providing advice to develop risk analyses for standards development and consultation. Your advice and analyses will contribute to ensure up-to-date standards and alignment with international standards. This will also support bilateral negotiations and engagements with offshore counterparts and organisations to enable safe trade and travel.

Other key repsonsiblities will include:

• Undertaking consultation processes in developing the evidence base and its use in risk management decisions
• Contributing to the ongoing development of priority strategic work within MPI
• Building and maintaining positive and open relationships with stakeholders whose support and participation is necessary for the provision of robust standards
• Driving consistency of risk analysis across import standards and pathways
• Negotiations on import health standards and market access conditions and measures during the development of veterinary certificates with trading partners and other relevant parties

About You - Mōu

You will have a post-graduate science or veterinary degree (essential) and bring relevant technical or professional experience to provide high quality advice and support across strategy development and implementation.

You will also need to have demonstrated skills in the following areas:

• Ability to summarise and present complex information in a way that it can be easily understood by various internal and external audiences
• Proven track record of building relationships and gaining the support and participation of others
• Written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to plan, set priorities and meet deadlines
• Experience establishing and managing relationships and consultation with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Experience in dealing with complex problems and the ability to provide advice on sensitive business decisions, including those with financial and people impact
• Ideally, experience in identifying, analysing, and managing risk

We are seeking someone motivated, collaborative, and keen to have a bit of fun along the way.

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 be a great fit. 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Animal & Animal Products team is made up of an Adviser, three Senior Advisers and a Principal Adviser, all based in Wellington City. The team develop and implement the rules for safe trade in live animals and animal products.

As we deliver on our key outcomes of Prosperity (Tōnuitanga), Sustainability (Kauneke Tauwhiro), Protection (Whakangungu), and Visible Leadership (Ngā Manukura), we work hard to deliver for New Zealand. Using our key working styles, we always strive to be open, agile, engaging and proactive.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

Our biosecurity system is based on how we manage risks offshore, at the border and within New Zealand. New Zealand's environment, our economy and trade and our way of life are underpinned by a strong biosecurity system.

Our biosecurity is a national asset. It is more important to New Zealand than most other countries because we are an isolated island nation that is free of many pests and diseases, we have unique biodiversity that is threatened by invasive species, our culture reflects our unique environment and much of our wealth relies on trade and the primary sector.

Please see here - https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/ to learn more about the exciting mahi that Biosecurity New Zealand undertake and the section “About Biosecurity New Zealand” giving more information about the strategic activity underway.

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
• Annual Wellness payment
• 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, 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 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 11.59pm on Sunday, 21 September 2025.

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

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