Veterinary Technical Supervisor Reliever | Palmerston North

Job Description

Job title: Veterinarian Reliever (Veterinary Technical Supervisor Reliever)

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location:  Palmerston North, Manawatū | Wellington Region

Salary range: VTS Range 6: $118,437 to $148,046 per annum

Starting salary will be dependent on skills and experience of the successful applicant.

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

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

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 purpose of this position is to travel around the Manawatū - Wellington region to provide verification services that confirms food safety objectives, market access and Biosecurity requirements have been met at the establishment thereby permitting the issue of official assurances. You may also be required to travel to other regions on occasion for this position. An MPI fleet vehicle will be provided for work related travel.

As a VTS Reliever, would also be expected to lead and where necessary coordinate verification activities over a varied range of animal products as well as manage the key primary relationship with operator and act as a conduit between operators and MPI.

• Ensure that official assurances issued for export products are valid and withstand third party reviews through audit and verification of the operators and their processes.
• Support operators to ensure that timely and effective corrective and preventative actions are in place.
• Work successfully with & support the regional MPI team, as well as the wider MPI team such as the technical team and other external stakeholders such as farmers.
• Work with operator personnel of different levels from plant manager to frontline staff and will be able to tailor your communication with them effectively.
• Promote efficient use of time and resources.

About the Branch - Mō te peka

Based at the MPI office in Palmerston North, this Veterinary Reliever role reports to the Team Manager Establishment, and involves providing veterinary relief services across a range of locations within the regional team. This includes premises in Bulls and Marton to the north, Dannevirke to the east, and Levin and Wellington to the south. The role may also require occasional postings to neighbouring locations such as the Whanganui/Taranaki team and the Hawkes Bay team. As a Veterinary Reliever, you will be working closely with industry professionals including red meat processors, farmers and other stakeholders and other MPI veterinarians, as well as collaborating with various teams within MPI to support the delivery of both national and regional verification services.

A key component of the role is the need to be available to cover shift work, including both day and night processing hours. The position will require flexibility, as you will need to adjust to varying shifts and schedules, which may include weekends, public holidays, and overnight hours. Given the nature of the work, the reliever must be adaptable and ready for changes in the day's plan, as priorities and assignments can shift quickly depending on operational needs. You will need to be comfortable working across different locations and with different people and systems. Recent experience in a veterinary setting, especially in NZ red meat verification, will be advantageous.

Manawatu is famous for its effortless blend of city and rural living; here you can choose your ideal lifestyle, from peaceful rural villages, to bustling townships, or city life. The region includes the charming towns of Feilding, Kimbolton, Apiti, Himatangi Beach, Linton and Ashhurst to name a few, and at the centre of it all is the city of Palmerston North. It is less than two hours from New Zealand's capital city Wellington and one hour from Whanganui. It is also an easy drive to North Island ski fields, Hawke's Bay wineries and Mount Taranaki.

• Watch some of our team describe why they love the role that they are in and their journey into a career with Verification Services – Click Here

• Veterinary Careers in New Zealand with MPI Verification Services | VSGD Interview the Team | Videos & Movies on Vimeo

About You - Mōu

This position would suit a veterinarian who has prior experience in premises verification and can demonstrate an organised and flexible approach, with the ability to take initiative. 

To be considered for this role, you must:

• Be a New Zealand registered Veterinarian (or be able to obtain registration with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand);
• Hold a full New Zealand driver's licence (or be able to obtain a licence by converting a current overseas driver's licence)

The successful candidate will also:

• 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 e.g. word-processing, excel, internet, email.

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 primary products.

To find out more about the Ministry and what we do please click here.

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

• Professional membership and annual practicing certificate reimbursement
• Wellness benefit for employees
• Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes

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 under the application process, on pre-employment checks page.

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” 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 22nd October 2026

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

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