Specialist Adviser Assurance Systems | Wellington City

Job Description

Job title: Specialist Adviser, Assurance Systems

Role type: Permanent, Full-Time

Location: Wellington

Salary band & range: $119,376 to $139,700 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Specialist Adviser, Assurance Systems is a high-impact advisory role within New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS). Your work will facilitate, maintain, and enhance trade, through the provision of trusted export assurances for animal products, food, live animals, and germplasm. 

You will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and enhancing assurance systems and processes to effectively support official assurances, halal certification, and to meet the expectations of overseas countries.  You'll provide expert technical advice on verification systems, certification requirements, and regulatory frameworks. You'll also contribute to calibration of verification practices, and ensure our systems remain responsive to emerging risks.

This role requires strategic thinking, technical depth, and the ability to work across diverse teams and stakeholders. You'll be part of a collaborative group that values innovation, evidence-based decision-making, and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assuring the integrity, safety and reputation of New Zealand's primary products, including food by:
  • providing expert specialist advice on the design and implementation of export assurance programmes, requirements and systems; and
  • adjudicating, providing technical advice, interpreting and clarifying requirements, systems and policies for export assurance systems for animals, animal products and food.

• Partnering with stakeholders to:
  • ensure assurance systems remain fit for purpose and align with industry and regulatory expectations.
  • facilitate innovative approaches to grow New Zealand's exports and meet emerging environmental challenges by monitoring and evaluating export assurance system requirements

About You - Mōu

A pragmatic, proactive self-starter, you thrive in complex regulatory environments. With a blend of technical expertise, relationship management, and project leadership, you work independently while remaining highly collaborative, supporting the team and driving initiatives forward.

Confident and experienced, you bring a strong technical background in food safety, animal health, or regulatory systems. Problem-solving in complex environments, especially those with national and international significance, is where you excel.

Navigating legislation, interpreting technical requirements, and translating them into practical, effective systems comes naturally. As a skilled communicator, you build trust and influence across government and industry.

Our ideal candidate will also have/display:

• A tertiary qualification in food science, animal health, veterinary science, or a related discipline
• In-depth knowledge of the Animal Products Act 1999 and export certification systems
• Experience with HACCP, risk-based food safety frameworks, and regulatory assurance
• Strong analytical and writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, evidence-based advice
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and influence across diverse stakeholder groups
• A proactive mindset and commitment to continuous improvement

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'll join the Food & Live Animal Assurance team within New Zealand Food Safety. The team is collaborative, diverse, and committed to protecting New Zealand's food, live animal and germplasm exports. We work closely with industry and verification agencies to maintain and enhance our export certification systems.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

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
• Annual Wellness payment

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/about-mpi/careers/working-mpi/benefits/

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 Sunday 28^th September 2025

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

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