Senior Adviser (Food Act Operations) at Ministry for Primary Industries, Christchurch

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Senior Adviser (Food Act Operations)

Role type: Permanent, Full time

Location: Christchurch

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

 

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

As a Senior Adviser in the Food Act Operations team, you'll play a key role in strengthening New Zealand's food safety framework. This is an opportunity to move beyond a regional or profit-driven environment and influence outcomes that matter for all New Zealanders.

You'll work in a dynamic, collaborative environment where you can develop new skills, broaden your experience across MPI, and contribute to smarter, more effective ways of regulating a diverse and evolving food sector. If you're a strategic thinker and relationship builder who thrives on solving complex challenges, this role is for you.

What You'll Do

• Build strong relationships with territorial authorities, co-regulators, and industry partners to ensure consistent application of food safety regulations.
• Monitor and support performance of recognised agencies, helping set national standards where needed.
• Provide expert advice on food safety standards and lead projects that align with MPI's strategic priorities.
• Collaborate across government and industry to promote innovative regulatory approaches that reduce compliance costs while maintaining high food safety standards.

 

About You – Mōu

You'll bring experience in regulatory environments, food safety, or food processing, and have the confidence to navigate complex issues. Whether you're coming from a local authority looking for broader opportunities, or a commercial organisation wanting to make a bigger impact, this role offers the chance to influence policy and outcomes at a national level.

We're looking for someone with:

• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex ideas clearly.
• Knowledge of New Zealand's food safety legislation, particularly the Food Act 2014.

You must have a current full New Zealand driver licence (not temporary, learner, or restricted) or equivalent full foreign drivers licence, and any endorsements required for the type of driving you'll be doing.

 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Food Act Operations team sits in the Food Risk Management directorate of New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS). Food Risk Management is responsible for setting standards for food production, processing, importing and exporting; identifying emerging food safety risks; and delivering an agile and evolving food compliance and response system.

The newly formed Food Act Operations team is a team of 10 people, that will be working to support councils, verifiers, evaluators, food business and other stakeholders with their requirements under the Food Act.

Based primarily out of Wellington in Pastoral House, our team is hard working and friendly. People enjoy working in this team because we have an energetic and positive team environment. Our work spans across many areas and so there will always be opportunities to learn, grow and try new things.

 

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

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.

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

• Additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Annual Wellness payment

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/about-mpi/careers/working-mpi/benefits/

 

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, 12^th February.

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

 

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