Veterinary Technical Supervisor 2 Predictive | Invercargill

Job Description

Job Title: Veterinarian (VTS2 Predictive)

Role type: Permanent, Full Time

Location: Invercargill | Southland

VTS Salary Range 9: $99,634 to $124,542 depending on skills and experience

In addition to salary, we offer overtime, penal time and shift allowances.

About the Role  - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The purpose of this role within New Zealand Food Safety Verification Services is to provide a range of food safety, animal welfare and biosecurity verification and certification services based at meat exporting plants. To support the meat industry and New Zealand's reputation in the world red meat market for the product produced and to ensure food safety and export standards are being followed by the plant. 

We have an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys problem solving and enhancing their relationships with others with effective communication.

The role is varied, and you will be expected to do the following:

• Collaborate well with internal and external stakeholders, such as meat works personnel, Veterinary colleagues/VS team.
• Verify that requirements and procedures are being followed.
• Provide certification for animal meat exports
• Complete ante mortem inspections and occasionally provide judgement on post-mortem inspection
• Maintain knowledge within the farming communities and be involved in on farm verification
• Ensure animal welfare is being maintained

You will receive full-time technical training prior to being warranted under the relevant legislation. We have ongoing, on-site training, mentoring and technical support for you in your new role. 

About You - Mōu

The successful candidate will:

• Be a New Zealand registered Veterinarian (Or be able to obtain registration with VCNZ)
• Hold a full New Zealand driver's licence (or be able to obtain a full NZ licence by converting a current overseas driver's licence)
• Have verbal and written skills, and analytical reasoning skills
• Demonstrate integrity and trust, ethics and values, resilience, adaptability, and openness
• Have experience persuading and influencing, teamwork, planning and organising
• Have computer literacy – can operate standard and customised software to an acceptable standard including word-processing, excel, internet, email

It is advantageous if you have knowledge of HACCP/Quality Assurance in Food Safety however, this is included in your training.

About the Team    - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

Reporting to the Team Manager Establishment Invercargill, this role is suitable to an entry level veterinarian looking for a career change.

The role sits within the Establishment group of the Verification Services directorate. MPI Verification Services (MPI VS) provides a range of food safety and biosecurity verification and certification services to support market access strategies and setting standards.

The Invercargill Establishment team has a strong international flavour with members originating from South Africa, South Korea, Holland, Great Britain, USA, as well as New Zealand. Each of the six processing plants have a Supervising Veterinarian to manage the VS team there and to manage the relationship with the operator's compliance team and management team. The whole team has 20 verifiers which includes relievers who fill in across all sites as needed.

Invercargill - New Zealand's southernmost city with a population exceeding 53,000. Invercargill is the capital of Southland. Invercargill is well-serviced with an excellent range of shops and a selection of lively bars and restaurants. The family-friendly Invercargill also boasts an abundance of special natural spaces, from parks and gardens to picturesque bushes and reserves, rivers, and beaches, as well as the unique Sandy Point domain.

Once trained you will assist in providing verification to of the meat processing premises in the team or further afield as well as eventually contributing to the team's on-farm verification tally. You will be expected to apply for permanent veterinary technical supervisor (VTS) roles once trained and when these become available.

Generally, meat processing premises run day and night shift for the summer peak season and at some plants, night shift extends through to the winter also. You will be rostered onto shifts to be agreed locally with VTS colleagues. Any overtime is compensated and early starts, or late finishes are recognised with penal time payments, as well as shift leave accumulation.

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

• Annual Wellness payment and reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes
• Professional membership reimbursement
• Additional MPI leave days

Drug and Alcohol Screening  - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred applicant/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.

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, whanau 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 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 Wednesday 22^nd April 2026.

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

Follow MPI  - Whāia ngā tūhononga ki MPI i konei

Links to Facebook, MPI Careers, LinkedIn, X