Senior Technical Advisor at Ministry for Primary Industries, Auckland MPI Centre
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
Senior Technical Adviser (System Verification)
Role type: Permanent, full-time
Location: Auckland (Māngere)
Salary band & range: E/D- $87,008 to $118,005 depending on skills and experience
About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga
As a Senior Technical Adviser, System Verification, you will provide expert advice on programmes of work, strategic direction, implementation and performance of verification systems. This role encompasses contributing to and continuous impovement of specific pieces of work to improve and strengthen biosecurity outcomes.
You will be responsible for the day to day operation of verification systems across cargo and passenger pathways to support the targeting of border resource and capability to higher risk pathways.
Some of these systems include:
- Approved Recognised Cruise Line Programme
- Japanese Used Vehicle Systems
- Sea Container Hygiene Systems
- New Vehicle imports
- Offshore verifications
You will work closely with other Senior Technical Advisers, front-line staff, Biosecurity Auditors, Verifiers, and external stakeholders, including Operators, Biosecurity Partners and Biosecurity Pledge members.
About You - Mōu
Our ideal candidate will bring experience from the biosecurity sector, this could be understanding of the Biosecurity Act (1993) to operational experience.
You will also have:
- Project or programme planning, monitoring, risk mitigation, on time delivery and reporting.
- Ability to deliver quality advice, guidance and material on time.
- Facilitating collaborative processes and leading partnership based programmes
- Developing and managing relationships with internal & external stakeholders, including senior leaders and peers.
- Ability to think strategically in offering advice and services to enable delivery of strategic outcomes.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills including proven ability to adapt quickly to meet audience needs
- Ability to work within a team environment
About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū
This role reports to the Team Manager System Verification, where you will be working alongside 5 other Senior Technical Advisers, currently based in Auckland. This team is part of the Verification & Programmes group which you will also work closely with.
Verification and Programmes provides national oversight and strategy for core Border Clearance Services biosecurity functions including providing leadership, support and resources to investigate and implement initiatives that are future-focused and maximise biosecurity protection.
They are also responsible for providing support across sea cargo, transitional facilities, system verification, passengers and technology including our assurance and technical work across all pathways.
About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua
Our role includes supporting for the growth of 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
- Annual Wellness payment
- Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames
- Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
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 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 Sunday, 5 April.
If you have any questions about the role, please email shane.gooch@mpi.govt.nz
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Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details
| Employer: | Ministry for Primary Industries |
| Location: | Auckland MPI Centre |
| Position type: | Permanent |
| Category: | Government, Policy, Planning & Regulation |
| Date listed: | 23-Mar-2026 |
| Salary range: | 87,008 - 118,005 |
| Closing date: | 05-Apr-2026 |
| Reference: | NZ/1913741 |
| Attachment: | Senior Technical Adviser - Verification & Programmes.docx (Word, 99KB) Job Specification |
| File links: | |
| Website: |
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