Senior Engagement Adviser | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Engagement Adviser

Role type: Permanent, Full-time

Location: Wellington City

Salary Band & Range: GSR D: $100,934 to $118,005 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

We're looking for a skilled Senior Engagement Adviser to join us and help shape how we build relationships between New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) and stakeholders who play an important role in our food safety system. The role includes providing strategic, integrated, impactful engagement and communications support to help NZFS deliver its vision that New Zealand food is trusted by everyone, everywhere.

Aligning NZFS' values and identity consistently is at the heart of this position. You will contribute through project management, providing communication support to all NZFS, and support engagement and events management that champion NZFS' key messages and work. If you are passionate about food safety, communications and engagement, then this role is for you!

Day-to-day activities will be mix of liaising with internal and external stakeholders across business units, directorates and industry. This will include close collaboration with Public Affairs to write and review engagement material for NZFS, as well as providing strategic oversight of our dynamic stakeholder environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing quality stakeholder and engagement plans for programmes and system improvements. Plans could be for conferences, event programmes, sponsorship delivery or regulatory changes.
• Building internal staff engagement capability through developing templates, guidance, and training for engagement across NZFS.
• Leading well-planned and high-quality project/programmes to successful delivery.
• Creating clear, accessible, and high‑quality written content, translating complex or technical information into plain English for a range of audiences.
• Applying your sound understanding of Government decision-making and operating procedures to all activities.

About You - Mōu

This will be the perfect opportunity for an experienced adviser ready for senior work, or a developing senior with a couple of years' experience at this level. You have a robust background in communications and stakeholder engagement, coupled with a passion for the food safety system. You love learning and translating information to different audiences including leaders, businesses, and the public.

You're a self‑starter who takes initiative and keeps things moving proactively, working efficiently and reliably in a fast‑paced environment. You're switched on, with strong judgement and the ability to read the room and adapt your approach to different audiences. You build trust quickly, follow through on commitments, and contribute positively to a collaborative team culture.

You thrive on collaborating across teams to facilitate engagement across the organisation. You are future-focused, work strategically with a skillset that influence the public opinion of NZFS's values.

In addition, you have:

• a tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline.
• more than five years of experience in developing, implementing and delivering communication and engagement strategies.
• a strategic, proactive approach to upholding organisational reputation.
• experience with government processes.
• ability to measure results against engagement and communications objectives.

You do not need to meet all 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

Reporting to the Manager, Stakeholder Engagement you will contribute to the Regulatory Support & Performance Directorate and play a key role in role in designing and delivering effective and balanced engagement and communications. You will work alongside a Wellington-based team, including an Engagement Adviser, Senior Visual Designer and Visual Designer to support NZFS' vision and its key customers.

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

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 11:59pm on Tuesday 24th February 2026.

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