Principal Adviser, Animal Health & Welfare | Wellington City

Job Description

Principal Adviser Animal Health & Welfare 

Role type: Full time, Fixed Term/Secondment, until February 2027  

Location: Wellington City 

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

Help shape the future of New Zealand's animal welfare system 

Are you looking for an exciting strategic challenge? Do you enjoy making sense of ambiguity, bringing people together, and turning complex ideas into practical outcomes?

We're looking for a highly capable Principal Adviser (or an exceptional Senior Adviser ready for the next step) to join our Animal Health & Welfare Directorate on a temporary basis, starting as soon as possible through to February 2027. Start and end dates are negotiable for the right person.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape and influence the future performance of New Zealand's animal welfare regulatory system. You'll play a key role in designing and implementing improvements to system performance, helping MPI deliver on priority recommendations and strengthen its regulatory stewardship approach.

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga 

Reporting to the Manager Animal Health and Exports, you'll provide strategic and intellectual leadership across a range of high-profile and complex work programmes. You'll work at the centre of policy, regulation, strategy, and system improvement, collaborating with senior leaders, government agencies, and stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes for New Zealand. 

Some of your key responsibilities will include: 

• Leading strategic initiatives and priority programmes across the animal health and welfare system.  
• Helping design and implement system performance and regulatory stewardship frameworks.  
• Providing high-quality advice and analysis on complex issues and emerging risks.  
• Influencing and supporting organisational thinking on long-term system improvement.  
• Building strong relationships across MPI, government agencies, and external stakeholders to drive alignment and outcomes 

About You - Mōu  

You may already be operating at Principal Adviser level, or you could be a standout Senior Adviser looking for a genuine stretch opportunity.

To be successful, you'll bring: 

• Experience in strategy development, regulatory systems, policy design, or system stewardship.  
• The ability to navigate ambiguity and make sense of complex information and competing priorities.  
• Strong strategic thinking and intellectual leadership capability.  
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage senior leaders and stakeholders.  
• Experience building productive relationships across organisations and sectors.  
• A self-motivated, action-focused approach and a genuine commitment to collaboration and inclusion. 

In addition, experience in the following would be valuable:

• Regulatory stewardship or performance frameworks.
• Organisational system improvement or regulatory reform programmes. 
• Animal health, animal welfare, or related regulatory environments.

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.

Why join us?

This role offers the chance to contribute to work that will have a lasting impact across New Zealand's animal welfare system. You'll join a supportive team, work alongside experienced leaders and specialists, and have the opportunity to influence strategic thinking across MPI and the wider regulatory sector.

If you're energised by complex challenges, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and want to help shape system-level change, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Animal Health & Welfare Directorate plays a key role in strengthening New Zealand's animal welfare system. Our team leads strategic and system improvement work, working closely with colleagues and stakeholders across MPI and the wider regulatory sector to deliver practical, evidence-based outcomes.

We're a collaborative and supportive team that values fresh thinking, good judgement, and a positive approach. We enjoy tackling complex challenges together, sharing expertise, and continuously improving the way we work. If you're curious, relationship-focused, and comfortable working in ambiguity, you'll fit right in.

This role is based in Wellington and requires regular office attendance. Applicants must already be based in Wellington.

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 trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

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

• Additional MPI leave days 
• Access to free professional confidential counselling 
• Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes 

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 11th October 2026. 

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

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