Specialist Adviser | Wellington City

Job Description

Specialist Adviser

Role type: Permanent, full time

Location: Wellington

Salary range & band: General Salary Range D $102,953 to $120,365 depending on skills and experience

About the Role – Kōrero mō te Tūranga

Use your specialist animal health or biological sciences expertise to help facilitate the safe import of animals and animal products into New Zealand. You'll provide technical leadership and advice on complex biosecurity matters, support decision making, and help shape consistent regulatory outcomes across the animal approvals and advice system. This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise in a challenging and rewarding environment, while enjoying strong work-life balance and a supportive team culture.

• Provide technical leadership on complex animal and animal product imports
• Review approvals and specialist biosecurity advice
• Mentor and uplift team capability
• Build trusted stakeholder relationships
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives

About You – Mōu

You'll bring strong scientific judgement and enjoy working through complex technical issues while balancing stakeholder needs. You may be a veterinarian, animal health professional, or biological sciences specialist looking to apply your expertise in a regulatory environment. You'll communicate clearly, influence successfully, and support others to deliver high-quality outcomes.

• Relevant tertiary qualification in veterinary or biological sciences
• At least 5 years of relevant technical/professional experience as a Senior Adviser/Analyst or equivalent role within the biosecurity system.
• Strong technical analysis and decision-making skills
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Experience building trusted stakeholder relationships
• Enjoy mentoring and supporting others' development

You do not need to meet all of 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

The Animal and Plant Approvals and Advice team sits within Biosecurity New Zealand's Import and Export Standards Directorate. We provide technical advice, approvals and regulatory services that support safe trade while protecting New Zealand's biosecurity system. You'll join a collaborative and pragmatic team that values knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and delivering excellent outcomes for customers and stakeholders.

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.

Our role includes seizing export opportunities for our food and fibre sector, improving sector productivity, ensuring the food we produce is safe, increasing sustainable resource use, and protecting New Zealand from biological risk.

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

Security checks – Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru

This roles require a New Zealand national security clearance. To be considered for this role, you must meet the eligibility criteria set out below.

CONFIDENTIAL national security clearance

• You must be a New Zealand citizen, or hold a New Zealand residence‑class visa (including permanent residence).
• You must have a minimum five (5)‑year background history that can be verified and assessed by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) to determine your suitability for a CONFIDENTIAL national security clearance.

Find out more about the national security vetting process here and access the eligibility self‑check tool here.

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

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 whakapapa; 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 Monday 17^th August.

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