Senior Adviser Food Standards | Wellington City

Job Description

Senior Adviser (Food & Seafood Standards)

Role type: Permanent

Location: Wellington

Salary band & range: General Salary Range D depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

We're looking for a recognised technical leader in food safety, someone who can pair deep subject matter expertise with the ability to deliver high quality, influential work.

As a Senior Adviser in the Food & Seafood Standards team, you will help shape Aotearoa's food safety system by developing robust, practical, and future focused standards that protect consumers and support a strong food sector.

In this role, you will:

• Work independently and collaboratively to ensure regulatory settings are technically sound and workable in practice.
• Apply sound judgement and a solutions-focused approach to real world food safety challenges.
• Engage confidently with food producers, processors, exporters, and international partners.
• Build trusted relationships to help design regulatory and non‑regulatory solutions that balance innovation, risk management, and usability.
• Produce high quality written work that supports senior officials and Ministers to make informed decisions.

Your technical expertise in food science or technology will make a tangible impact. You'll contribute to domestic and international standards, strengthen industry practice, and advance New Zealand Food Safety's mission to keep our food safe, trusted, and globally recognised.

You'll also have opportunities to lead complex or high-profile projects, mentor colleagues while sharing your technical expertise, and influence the strategic direction of New Zealand Food Safety.

About You – Mōu

To be successful in this role, you'll bring strong experience across New Zealand's food regulatory system, including the Food Act 2014, Animal Products Act 1999, and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. You'll be recognised for your technical expertise and your ability to apply it in practical, solutions focused ways that support both compliance and innovation.

You'll bring:

• Solid knowledge of food production and processing practices.
• Strong understanding of food safety systems, including HACCP and risk management.
• Experience developing and implementing food safety policy, standards, or systems.
• The ability to analyse information and provide well-reasoned, evidence-based advice.
• Confidence operating within the wider policy, regulatory, and system settings.

Just as important are the personal qualities you bring. You're driven, adaptable, and able to stay calm and effective when priorities shift. You communicate complex information clearly, build positive relationships with diverse stakeholders, and contribute to a supportive, high performing team.

You will also lead and participate in technical discussions with confidence and take a balanced, pragmatic approach to challenges by finding solutions that work for both industry and the wider food safety system.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Food and Seafood Standards team sits within the Food Risk Management directorate and plays a vital role in protecting New Zealand's food system.

This specialised team is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining regulatory requirements and guidelines, as well as providing technical expertise across their areas. You will be supported by colleagues who value collaboration, practical experience, and a steady, thoughtful approach to work.

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

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 10 March 2026.

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

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