Biosecurity Support Officer

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI); Christchurch; On-site; NZD 62,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional MPI leave days

Career development opportunities

Job summary

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in Christchurch is seeking a Biosecurity Support Officer on a fixed term, full-time basis until June 2027. The role provides essential business support to Border Clearance Managers and frontline staff, including reception duties, data entry and travel bookings.

This office-based position requires strong MS Suite skills, sound secretariat experience, and a client-focused approach to deliver high-quality service across multiple stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of administration and business support systems and processes.
• Front-facing office experience advantageous.
• Ability to deliver an exceptional customer experience in every interaction.
• Effective communication, questioning and listening skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Multitasking across multiple stakeholders.
• High level of organizational skills and timely delivery.
• Clean criminal record.

Responsibilities

• Reception duties 8.00–4.30pm daily.
• Data entry and administration tasks.
• Managing a team email inbox and responding to emails.
• Travel bookings.
• Processing invoices and ordering goods.
• Assisting with other operational support functions.

Skills

MS Office

Secretariat skills

Data entry

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Customer service

Tools

MS Suite

Job description

Job title

Biosecurity Support Officer

Role type

Fixed term, full time (until June 2027)

Location

Christchurch (Burnside)

Salary band & range

General Salary Range H: $61,965 - $71,810 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Biosecurity Support Team provides Business Support to the Border Clearance Managers and front-line staff as well as covering the main reception area. Some of your core day-to-day duties will involve the following:

• Reception 8.00-4.30pm daily
• Data entry and administration
• Managing a team email inbox and responding to emails
• Travel Bookings
• Processing invoices and ordering goods
• Assisting with other Operational Support functions

Please Note that this is an office-based Monday – Friday 8.00am – 4.30pm.

About You - Mōu

We need you to be agile and adaptable, someone who thrives in a complex and sometimes ambiguous environment. Our ideal candidate is a team player who is strong on systems, processes, and relationships. We are looking for high level ability within the MS Suite and sound secretariat skills and experience. You will take pride in completing your work to a high level, providing input to improve, develop processes and want to become part of a supportive team, then you are just the type of person that our Support Team of this looking to recruit.

• Knowledge of administration and business support systems and processes
• Front facing, office experience advantageous
• A drive to deliver an exceptional customer experience in every interaction
• Effective communication, questioning and listening skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Multitasking and prioritizing across multiple stakeholders
• A high level of organizational skills, the ability to deliver on time and solve problems as they arise.
• Clean criminal record

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

You’ll join a small team of two Business Support Officers, reporting to the Team Leader and working closely with colleagues across the wider Biosecurity team. We pride ourselves on being approachable, collaborative, and supportive, with everyone willing to pitch in and help where needed. Based in a larger office environment, this fully office-based role offers the opportunity to build strong working relationships while supporting a critical frontline function.

About MPI - Mō Te Manatū Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries is helping to seize export opportunities for our primary industries, improve sector productivity, ensure the food we produce is safe, increase sustainable resource use, and protect New Zealand from biological risk. The Biosecurity branch has a critical role in preventing harmful organisms crossing New Zealand's borders. It manages border and compliance activities as well as preparing for, and responding to, any biosecurity incursions that may occur. The branch also manages MPI's centralised intelligence, planning and co-ordination group which was established to manage food, biosecurity and animal welfare response consistently and effectively.

To find out more about the Ministry and what we do.

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

• Additional MPI leave days
• 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.

To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it.

Applications close at 11:59pm on Tuesday 13 October 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please email [e-mail]