Adviser at Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington City

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Adviser (Food Act Operations)

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Wellington

Salary band & range: General Salary Range F: $76,463 to $89,215 depending on skills and experience.

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga 

As an Adviser in the Food Act Operations team, you'll help us support the systems and services that underpin New Zealand's food safety framework. This includes working with food businesses, Registration Authorities, Recognised Agencies, verifiers, and evaluators to ensure compliance with the Food Act 2014 and other relevant standards.

This is a dynamic and proactive role that requires adaptability, strategic thinking, and a commitment to continuous improvement. You'll be part of a team that's focused on finding smarter, more effective ways to regulate a diverse and evolving food sector. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy tackling complex challenges, we'd love to hear from you. 

Your key responsibilities will include: 

• Contributing to the development, review, and implementation of food standards.
• Create guidance documentation for food businesses & regulators including guidance on changes to the food standards code.
• Development and review of implementation tools for businesses, recognised persons and industry regulators.
• Contribute to stakeholder partnerships to facilitate innovative approaches and enable growth of New Zealand exports.
• Address emerging issues while maintaining food safety and suitability standards.
• Providing high-quality technical advice to other NZFS business units, MPI branches and Government, and relevant external stakeholders.
• Actively participate and support food related projects, initiatives, and emergency response activities.

About You – Mōu

To be successful in this role, you'll be a strategic thinker with a strong technical foundation and a passion for improving New Zealand's food safety systems. You will bring a collaborative mindset and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, whether you're working with industry partners, regulators, or internal teams. Your experience in regulatory environments, food safety, or food processing gives you the confidence to navigate challenges and contribute to meaningful change. 

We're looking for someone who has: 

• Proven experience in analysing complex information, formulating advice, and communicating clearly to diverse audiences.
• An understanding of New Zealand's Food Safety legislative and regulatory environment, particularly the Food Act 2014 and Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
• Excellent problem-solving, organisational, and communication skills. 

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 14 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. 

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.

Applications close at midnight on Sunday, 8th February. 

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

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