Job title: Team Manager Animal Welfare Systems
Role type: Fixed Term or Secondment to 29 January 2027, Full-Time hours
Location: Wellington
Salary band \& range: General Salary Range C: $119,376 - $160,026 depending on skills and experience
About the role - Korero mo te turanga
Back-filling for a staff member on parental leave, we need a high performing, people-focused leader who has an interest in animal welfare and holds the technical, professional and regulatory experience relevant to this sector.
Managing, leading and building teams and work programmes, the successful applicant will work closely with animal sector stakeholders, and lead a small team of technical subject matter experts.
About You - Mou
As a people leader, you will demonstrate:
Strong capability across managing, leading and building collaborative teams, including remotely based and/or technical specialists
Programme management and organisational skills with the ability to think ahead, prioritise and plan accordingly, and when required, deal effectively with ambiguity
A good understanding of the `Machinery of Government' and New Zealand's regulatory environment preferably including the Animal Welfare Act 1999
Experience managing effective working relationships and negotiating complex issues with a range of sectors and internal and external stakeholders
Excellent writing skills
An open, collaborative and flexible working style
Ideally you'll hold a degree in Veterinary Medicine. An interest or experience in the use of animals in Research, Teaching \& Testing is preferred.
If you're keen to lead a team and have the opportunity to drive a complex and interesting animal welfare work programme, then we would love to hear from you!
About our team - Mo to matou ropu
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 contributes to market success and optimum product positioning for New Zealand's livestock products.
The team supports two Ministerial advisory committees for animal welfare so an understanding of and/or Secretariat experience is helpful. You will be expected to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with the Ministerial Committee Chairs.
About MPI - Mo te Manatu Ahu Matua
MPI's 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 - Nga hua o te mahi i te Manatu Ahu Matua
Additional MPI leave days
Annual Wellness payment
Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes
Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mo tenei mahi whaitake?
We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapu, whanau and hapori.
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 Manatu Ahu Matua a great place to work for all.
In your Cover Letter we'd like to know about you, your values, your whakapapa; 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 Sunday, 01 February 2026
If you have any questions about the role, please email fiona.ramson@mpi.govt.nz
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