Senior Adviser Governance | Wellington City

Job Description

Senior Adviser - Governance

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Wellington City

Salary band & range: General Salary Range D: $100,934 - $118,005 depending on skills and experience

About the Role – Kōrero mō te Tūranga

This is a fantastic opportunity to support and work closely alongside the Deputy Director-General (DDG) of New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) and be a key adviser to the NZFS leadership team for its engagement with the NZFS Advisory Board, the Agricultural and Horticultural Products Sector Leader's Forum, and the NZFS Regulatory System Stewardship Board and wider MPI.

You will ensure the DDG is well supported by providing quality review, analysis and secretariat services to the NZFS Advisory Board, the Agricultural and Horticultural Products Sector Leader's Forum, and the NZFS Regulatory System Stewardship Board.

You will also collaborate with other team members to undertake government accountability and some official correspondence tasks and provide weekly reporting and priorities to the Minister.

About You – Mōu

We're looking for someone vibrant, proactive, & driven, who has experience navigating the machinery of government and fostering strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

This role will suit someone who is looking for their next challenge by using their well-developed time and organisational management skills.

To be successful in the role, you will need:

• Experience in drafting, proofing, and editing briefings, and other documents
• An understanding of governance and secretariat services as well as providing committees and paper authors with high-quality analysis and advice on connecting governance and strategy
• To be a confident and quick learner, with strong collaboration skills and flexible mind-set, who can work independently at pace and deal with ambiguity and be reactive when needed
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to deliver high-quality written materials with an eye for detail in a variety of communication settings and styles
• Political awareness and discernment
• An understanding of the structure, functions and conventions of government and their relationship to the work of MPI
• Experience in managing relationships and consultation with an assortment of internal and external stakeholders
• A flexible and adaptable approach to work and be comfortable working in an environment of continuous improvement

You do not need to meet all role requirements to apply. We welcome applicants who feel they could make a great fit. 

***As writing capability is critical to this role, we may be asking shortlisted applicants to submit an example of a formal writing undertaken at work as part of the recruitment process. ***

 
About the Team – Mō tō mātou Rōpū 

The Regulatory Support & Performance directorate is a part of New Zealand Food Safety branch at the Ministry. The directorate:

• delivers food safety strategy and ensuring a strategic focus,
• ensures an integrated stakeholder and partner engagement,
• exercises strong governance and official correspondence,
• ensures effective implementation of its services, programme and projects
• focuses on efficient management of the cost recovery services, registrations, and approvals for food businesses, and
• supports for export businesses through advice and resources.

This role sits in the Strategy and Performance team. This is a close-knit team of five, made up of a Senior Business Analyst and Seniors Advisers all reporting to the Manager of Strategy & Performance but working closely alongside teams within Regulatory Support & Performance directorate and wider Food Safety and MPI.

This team is mainly based in Wellington, and the team members have a truly diverse background, experience and yet work collaboratively as a unit.

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
• Additional MPI leave days
• 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 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 Sunday 5th July 2026. 

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

Follow MPI here - Whāia ngā tūhononga ki MPI i konei

Links to Facebook, MPI Careers, LinkedIn, X