Senior Adviser Surveillance Contracts at Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington - Upper Hutt

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Senior Adviser Surveillance Contracts

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Wallaceville (Upper Hutt), 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

As Senior Adviser Surveillance Contracts, you'll provide commercial leadership and expert advice across a portfolio of complex, high-value surveillance and incursion investigation contracts. You'll lead negotiations, strengthen supplier performance, manage commercial risk, and ensure contract delivery supports Biosecurity New Zealand's strategic objectives.

This role suits an experienced commercial, procurement, or contract management professional who is comfortable operating in complex public sector environments where sound judgement, influence, and value-for-money outcomes matter.

In this role, you will:

• Lead commercial and contract strategy for high-value surveillance programmes.
• Lead negotiations for complex contracts and variations.
• Provide expert advice on contract structures, pricing, risk, and performance frameworks.
• Monitor supplier delivery, financial performance, and contractual compliance.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Mentor others and uplift commercial and contract management capability across the group.
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About You - Mōu

You'll bring strong commercial acumen, sound judgement, and the ability to influence and build trusted relationships across technical, operational, and commercial environments. You're confident navigating ambiguity, providing constructive challenge, and supporting others to deliver high-quality commercial outcomes.

You will bring:

• Proven experience leading procurement and contract management.
• Skill in contract drafting, pricing models, performance frameworks.
• Ability to lead negotiations for complex commercial agreements.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Ability to coach and support others to uplift capability.

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.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

You'll join the Biosecurity Surveillance & Incursion Investigation group within Biosecurity New Zealand. The team includes technical leads, operational advisers, programme managers and specialists who work collaboratively to deliver surveillance vital to New Zealand's biosecurity system. This is a connected, supportive and mission driven team that works across Aotearoa and partners closely with suppliers, government agencies, sector groups and Māori.

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 Matua

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

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 17th May 2026.

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

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