Building Services Engineer Specialist at Ministry for Primary Industries, Auckland Mount Albert

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Job title: Building Services Engineer Specialist

Role type: Full time, permanent

Location: Auckland – Mt Albert

Salary band & range: GSR C $132,925 to $155,000 depending on skills and experience

 

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

This is a unique opportunity to provide technical leadership for the Ministry for Primary Industries specialist facilities and the delivery of the Plant Health & Environment Capability (PHEC) programme - a significant investment in New Zealand's science and biosecurity capability.

 

As MPI's Building Services Engineering Specialist, you'll act as the technical authority for building services infrastructure, ensuring critical systems remain safe, compliant, reliable and fit for purpose. Working across our Mt Albert campus, with oversight of facilities in Tamaki and Wallaceville, you'll influence engineering strategy, asset performance, maintenance planning, and operational readiness for highly specialised environments.

 

You will:

• Lead building services engineering strategy and asset lifecycle planning.
• Provide technical oversight for major infrastructure projects and engineering solutions.
• Drive commissioning, operational readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop maintenance strategies and optimise engineering performance.
• Manage technical service contracts, vendors, and service delivery outcomes.
• Lead implementation and optimisation of maintenance management systems (CMMS).
• Support business continuity, emergency response, and operational resilience.
• Build strong relationships with project teams, contractors, and key stakeholders.

 

This is a rare opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through nationally significant infrastructure that supports New Zealand's economic growth, science capability, and biosecurity resilience.

 

About You - Mōu

You will work closely with the Regional Facilities Manager, site-based Facilities Manager, biocontainment engineers, the PHEC project team, and the wider Property team to deliver operational excellence, asset performance, and infrastructure outcomes across MPI's specialist sites. You'll help shape the future performance of nationally significant science and biosecurity facilities while contributing to a major infrastructure development programme. This role offers significant influence, autonomy, and the opportunity to create long-term value for New Zealand.

 

You bring:

• Significant experience in complex building services engineering environments.
• Strong expertise in building systems, compliance, commissioning, and asset lifecycle management.
• Proven ability to lead contractors, service providers, and technical delivery across complex portfolios.
• Commercial acumen, including contract management, procurement, and budgeting.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence technical and business outcomes.
• Experience in laboratories, healthcare, research, tertiary, or other critical infrastructure environments will be highly regarded.

 

You must have a current full New Zealand driver licence (not temporary, learner, or provisional) or equivalent full foreign drivers licence, and any endorsements required for the type of driving you'll be doing.

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 will join a collaborative team of property, asset and facilities professionals focused on delivering safe, reliable, and fit-for-purpose environments across MPI's portfolio. Reporting into the National Facilities Manager, the role works closely with the Regional Facilities Manager, site-based Facilities Manager, biocontainment engineers, the PHEC project team, and the wider Property team to deliver operational excellence, asset performance, and infrastructure outcomes across MPI's specialist sites.

 

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources.

 

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

 

Credit check - Tirotiro nama

Please note, given this position is identified as carrying financial risk, the preferred candidate(s) will be required to satisfactorily pass a credit check.

 

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 Tuesday 21 July 2026.  

 

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

 

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