Principal Compliance Officer | Palmerston North

Job Description

Principal Compliance Officer

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Palmerston North or Napier

 Salary range & band: General Salary Range D: $100,934 to $135,076 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

As a Principal Compliance Officer, you will lead operational delivery, provide technical and strategic guidance, and support Animal Welfare Inspectors and National Animal Identification & Tracing (NAIT) Officers in carrying out complex and high‑risk investigations across the Animal Welfare and NAIT systems.

This role contributes directly to improving operational performance, consistency, and prosecutorial quality, while also building strong sector relationships and supporting readiness and response activities across New Zealand.

In this role you will:

• Lead and support Animal Welfare Inspectors and NAIT Officers on large‑scale, complex, or unique inspections, enquiries, and investigations.
• Hold statutory appointments as an Animal Welfare Inspector, NAIT Officer, and other warrants as required (e.g. Animal Products Act, Biosecurity Act).
• Support the Regional and District Managers through strategic advice, technical leadership, file reviews, prosecution oversight, and operational decision‑
• Assist in developing and implementing programmes to improve quality, capability, and consistency across Compliance & Response.
• Deliver and support training for Animal Welfare Inspectors and NAIT Officers across all levels of experience.

You can expect each day to offer variety, from mentoring staff and progressing significant investigations, to collaborating with co‑regulators, industry partners, and other MPI teams to ensure the integrity of New Zealand's primary sector.

This role sits within the national Compliance & Response (C&R) directorate, so extensive travel regionally or nationally is required.

About You - Mōu
You'll be an experienced compliance and enforcement professional who brings sound judgement, resilience, and the ability to operate confidently in a regulatory environment.

Your background will include leading investigations through to successful prosecution, engaging effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, and applying New Zealand law in complex operational contexts.

You are a strong communicator and relationship builder, with proven ability to influence, collaborate across teams, and coach or mentor others in a compliance setting.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in compliance and enforcement, ideally in Animal Welfare and/or NAIT.
• Proven experience leading investigations through to prosecution.
• Strong understanding of MPI's regulatory role and connections across agencies and industry.
• Working knowledge of New Zealand law in a regulatory context.
• Established relationships with key sector stakeholders.
• Strong investigative, analytical, and operational planning skills.
• Ability to communicate with impact and work effectively under pressure.

You must have a current full New Zealand driver licence (not temporary, learner, or restricted) or equivalent full foreign drivers licence, and any endorsements required for the type of driving you'll be doing.

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

You will be joining the Animal Welfare & NAIT Compliance group within the Compliance & Response (C&R) Directorate of Agriculture & Investment Services (AIS). This directorate plays a critical role in ensuring optimal compliance across MPI's systems.

This role sits in the Central Region which includes Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and down to Wellington. Principal Compliance Officers are required at a regional and national level, so regular travel, at short notice across the motu may be required.

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 sustainable provider of high-value food and primary products.

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

Security checks - Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru

Higher level Security Clearance

• most preferably a New Zealand citizen who has resided continuously in New Zealand for at least the last ten (10) years, OR
• is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last ten (10) years: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK or the USA; and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the NZSIS towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at a higher level.
• click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.

If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred candidates(s) for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site, here.

A New Zealand Firearms Licence (or the ability to obtain one) may be required.

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 11.59pm Thursday 16^th April 2026

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

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