Senior Adviser Feral Browsing Animals at Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington City

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Senior Adviser – Feral Browsing Animals 

Role type: Fixed-term until November 2027 

Location: Wellington 

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

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga  

Support the leadership of MPI's new national programme improving the management of feral browsing animals, with a focus on their impacts on production land. 

This is a significant programme and you will help shape programme planning, manage procurement, oversee contracts, and guide reporting for senior leaders and Ministers.  

The core responsibilities for the role are: 

• Leading programme and workstream planning. 
• Managing procurement, contracts, and vendor delivery. 
• Monitoring and reporting on programme milestones, risks, and outcomes. 
• Coordinating advice for senior leaders and Ministers. 
• Building relationships across MPI, other government agencies, councils, statutory, sector and interest groups. 

This is a fixed-term role until November 2027. 

About You - Mōu   

You're confident working with ambiguity and can bring structure to establishing programmes. You build strong relationships, manage complex contracts, and deliver clear, high-quality advice in fastmoving environments. 

To be successful in this role you will offer: 

• Skill in standing up cross-agency programmes.
• Strong procurement and financial management capability. 
• Ability to manage complex planning and reporting needs. 
• Experience working with diverse partners and stakeholders. 
• Attention to detail and drive. 
• Confidence advising senior leaders and Ministers. 

 You do not need to meet every requirement to apply - we encourage your application if you believe you're a good fit. 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū  

This is a new but high-profile programme. The role sits within the Pest Management Directorate in Biosecurity New Zealand which is responsible for managing a range of national pest management programmes and related regulatory matters. The programme itself has touch points across much of MPI as well as with a wide range of external parties.

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.  

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 

• Ability to purchase extra annual leave 
• Annual Wellness payment 
• 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 midnight on 18th of May 2026.  

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

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