Specialist Systems Auditor | Christchurch

Job Description

Specialist Systems Auditor, Dairy

Role type: Fixed-term/Secondment, full-time until November 2027

Location: Preferably Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch or Dunedin. 
Other locations may be considered for the right candidate.

Salary band & range: General Salary Range C: $121,764 to $142,494 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Systems Audit Team delivers an audit programme that supports food safety, assurance and market access outcomes, helping underpin New Zealand's $50 billion food and primary industries export sector. As part of New Zealand Food Safety's Assurance Directorate, the team provides independent assurance that New Zealand's regulatory systems are working as intended and delivering trusted outcomes both domestically and internationally.

As a Systems Auditor, you will work where New Zealand's regulatory systems are tested, demonstrated and improved. You'll undertake diverse audits across sectors including meat, dairy, seafood, laboratories, animal welfare and biosecurity, gaining a unique system-wide perspective of New Zealand's primary industries.

New Zealand becomes your workplace. You'll travel throughout the country, engaging with industry leaders, regulators, technical specialists and international authorities while contributing directly to confidence in New Zealand's food safety system and global market access

Key Responsibilities include:

• Undertake regulatory assurance and systems audits across New Zealand's dairy production sector.
• Assess the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks, verification systems and assurance arrangements for dairy products.
• Facilitate and host overseas competent authority audits.
• Provide technical expertise to accreditation bodies, including IANZ and JASANZ.
• Identify risks, system weaknesses and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support the development of assurance systems that maintain domestic and international confidence.
• Contribute to the team's Quality Management System and Health, Safety and Wellbeing programmes.

You will primarily audit within your area of expertise while being supported to broaden your capability across multiple sectors over time.

Why this role is different

• Travel throughout New Zealand and see assurance systems in action.
• Work alongside recognised experts in food safety, science, regulation and industry.
• Help maintain market access and confidence in New Zealand exports.
• Gain exposure across multiple sectors and regulatory systems.
• Enjoy varied, technically challenging work with national impact.
• Continuously learn, develop and expand your professional expertise.

About You - Mōu

We are looking for a technically strong and naturally curious dairy professional who enjoys understanding complex systems and how they deliver outcomes. You will be an excellent communicator with significant auditing, verification or regulatory experience, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to apply sound judgement in complex environments.

This role offers a unique opportunity to apply your expertise beyond individual operations and contribute to the performance and credibility of New Zealand's regulatory system for dairy. It is particularly suited to technical experts in food production, including dairy processing, who want to expand their knowledge beyond manufacturing environments.

Our ideal candidate will have and/or demonstrate:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in food safety, science, food technology or a related discipline.
• Technical capability in dairy production and processing
• Professional auditing qualifications or equivalent auditing experience.
• Strong stakeholder and relationship management skills.
• The ability to analyse systems and identify risks, trends and improvement opportunities.
• Knowledge of international trade arrangements and MPI's role as a Competent Authority.
• Strong knowledge of the Animal Products Act and/or Food Act.
• Awareness of related legislation including ACVM, Animal Welfare, Organic Products and Production, and Biosecurity Acts.

The role involves regular travel, including day trips, overnight stays and audit assignments of up to three weeks. We also offer extensive opportunities for learning, development and exposure across New Zealand's primary industries.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Systems Audit Team plays a critical role in maintaining confidence in New Zealand's food safety and primary production systems. Our auditors are recognised technical experts who work across regulatory, industry and international environments, helping support market access, consumer confidence and New Zealand's reputation for safe, trusted food.

Our team brings together expertise from scientific, veterinary, regulatory and industry backgrounds. Although geographically dispersed, we maintain a highly collaborative culture focused on technical excellence, knowledge sharing and continuous development. No two audits are the same, providing ongoing variety, challenge and opportunity to learn.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

We are passionate about growing prosperity in New Zealand's primary sectors while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources. 

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• 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 Thursday 22^nd October 2026

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

Follow MPI here - Whāia ngā tūhononga ki MPI i konei

Links to Facebook, MPI Careers, LinkedIn, X