Senior Adviser, Animal Health & Welfare at Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington City

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Job title: Senior Adviser, Animal Welfare & Health

Role type: Permanent, Full Time 

Location: Wellington  

Salary range & band: General Salary Range D: $100.934 to $118,005 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te tūranga

This role supports the Animal Welfare Team by undertaking research and contributing to the development of animal welfare standards, including codes of welfare and regulations. Animal welfare is a complex and often contested area, so you will need to work thoughtfully and respectfully with a wide range of perspectives. The role is highly technical and requires a strong ability to understand, interpret, and clearly communicate animal welfare science. With a broad and varied work programme, this position offers continual challenge, diversity of work, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

About You - Mōu

To be successful in this role you must have the following skills and attributes:

• A degree qualification in animal welfare science or a Veterinary qualification or equivalent qualification
• Demonstrated understanding of, and experience applying, the New Zealand regulatory framework and the Animal Welfare Act 1999
• Methodical approach to problem solving with ability to attend to detail
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with people from all levels of an organisation
• Well-developed written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Self-motivated with good organisational skills, able to set priorities, work with ambiguity and meet deadlines
• Experience with and/or exposure to New Zealand farming systems
• Experience with the development of animal welfare standards

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

Our team supports the development of animal welfare standards that meet the expectations of society for the welfare and humane treatment of all animals.  And we contribute to market success and optimum product positioning for New Zealand's livestock products. 

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.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Up to three additional (MPI holidays) leave days
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
• Wellness benefit for employees

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 Tuesday, 21 April 2026

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

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