Principal Adviser, Food Risk Management | Wellington City

Job Description

Principal Adviser Food Risk Management

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Wellington City

Salary band & range: General Salary Range B, $138,938 to $162,716 depending on skills and experience.

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

As Principal Adviser Food Risk Management, you'll be at the heart of NZFS's Food Risk Management directorate, providing high-level strategic advice and leadership across the food regulation, emerging risk, readiness and response, and food compliance functions.

You'll work closely with the Director and senior leaders to drive initiatives that ensure our food safety system is agile, resilient, and ready to respond to challenges.

In this role, you will:

• Lead complex projects and programmes that strengthen food safety outcomes and system resilience.
• Provide high‑quality strategic advice to the Director and senior decision‑makers on critical and emerging issues.
• Drive collaboration across NZFS, MPI, government agencies, and industry to align priorities and deliver shared outcomes.
• Build strong, constructive relationships that support effective regulation and incident readiness.
• Operate with agility in a dynamic environment, confidently prioritising work and responding to shifting risks.
• Identify and manage food safety risks early, protecting organisational reputation and public confidence.
• Take on leadership roles during food incidents and responses, including under the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS).
• Act on behalf of the Director when required, representing the programme at senior‑level engagements and ensuring continuity of leadership.

About You – Mōu

You will be a senior‑level strategic adviser with a strong grounding in public health, food safety, or risk‑based regulation. You will be comfortable operating at pace in complex environments and confident influencing decisions at a system and organisational level.

This role is best suited to candidates currently operating at Principal Adviser and/or management level, however highly capable senior advisers with the right breadth, influence, and leadership capability will also be considered.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience providing strategic advice in complex regulatory, policy, or operational environments, ideally within government or comparable systems.
• A strong understanding of food safety systems, public health, biosecurity, or risk management, and how regulatory settings impact outcomes.
• The ability to engage credibly with senior leaders, ministers' offices, government agencies, and industry stakeholders.
• Sound judgement and confidence navigating ambiguity, balancing competing priorities, and delivering pragmatic, evidence‑based solutions.
• Proven leadership capability, including the ability to lead work programmes, influence others without formal authority, and contribute positively to high‑performing teams.

Join New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) and contribute to protecting the health of New Zealanders while supporting a trusted, resilient, and internationally respected food system.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Food Risk Management directorate sets regulations and guides the implementation of standards for food production, processing, importing, and exporting. We also protect public health and maintain confidence in the safety and suitability of food through identification, assessment, and management of potential food safety risks.

This is a great opportunity to be part of meaningful work that supports food safety and the integrity of New Zealand's Primary Industries.

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.

To find out more about the Ministry and what we do please click here.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua  

• Additional MPI leave days
• Annual Wellness payment
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames

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” 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 22 April.

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

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