Senior Adviser (Plant Assurance)

Overview

Senior Adviser (Plant Assurance)

Role 1 : Fixed-term / secondment, 15 Dec 2025 – 23 Dec 2026 (40 hours per week)

Role 2 : Fixed-term / secondment until 30 June 2026 (36 hours per week)

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

We're looking for two Senior Advisers to join our Plant Assurance team within the New Zealand Food Safety business unit. These roles are central to maintaining and enhancing the integrity of New Zealand's plant export assurance systems, including phytosanitary (plant health), seed varietal, food safety, and other quality systems.

You'll contribute to the development, implementation, and monitoring of assurance frameworks that support government-to-government official assurances and facilitate market access for New Zealand's plant products.

As a Senior Adviser, you will :

• Develop and review phytosanitary and plant export requirements in line with international standards.
• Provide technical advice to verification agencies and MPI stakeholders.
• Monitor and assess the performance of plant export assurance systems.
• Contribute to international standard-setting.

These are dynamic roles in a fast-evolving regulatory environment, offering the opportunity to make a tangible impact on New Zealand's primary industries.

About You – Mōu

You'll bring a strong mix of technical expertise, regulatory understanding, and stakeholder engagement skills. You'll be comfortable navigating complex assurance frameworks and contributing to trade discussions.

We're especially interested in candidates who have :

About The Team – Mō Tō Mātou Rōpū

The Plant Assurance Team is part of the Plant, Wine & Organic Assurance Team (PWO) which is responsible for the Plant export assurance programme, Wine assurance programme and Official organic assurance programme. The PWO team plays a key role in assuring the integrity, safety and reputation of New Zealand's exported food and primary products.

The Plant Assurance team are a collaborative, experienced and knowledgeable group dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the assurance systems that underpin New Zealand's plant export system. The team works closely with Plant Exports, the Certification Unit, and Bilateral Relations & Trade and Trade Policy.

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

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 Friday 24th October

If you have any questions about the role, please email

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