Principal Advisor - Technical Policy

Beef + Lamb New Zealand; Wellington; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Beef + Lamb New Zealand leads strategic policy initiatives to support sheep and beef farmers across New Zealand, guiding regulatory outcomes and stakeholder dialogue. The role focuses on biosecurity, animal health, farm inputs, food safety, and market access to sustain the sector.

Based in Wellington, the Principal Advisor – Technical Policy will partner with government agencies, industry groups, and farmers to shape evidence-based policy positions and advocate for farmer interests in national

Qualifications

• Significant experience in policy, regulatory affairs, or advisory roles.
• Strong knowledge of government decision-making and policy development processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; credible stakeholder liaison.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic policy leadership across technical issues affecting sheep and beef farmers.
• Identify emerging risks and opportunities; develop evidence-based policy positions.
• Lead advocacy strategies with senior leaders, industry partners, government agencies, and farmers.
• Represent Beef + Lamb New Zealand in technical working groups and stakeholder forums.

Skills

Policy leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory affairs

Government relations

Analytical thinking

Education

Tertiary qualification in agricultural/science/economics

Job description

Passion, integrity, and a genuine desire to do our best for farmers is what drives us at Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ). We are 100% farmer funded and work on behalf of New Zealand's sheep and beef producers. Our vision is for thriving sheep and beef farmers, now and into the future. Beef + Lamb New Zealand's investments play a critical role in underpinning New Zealand's second biggest export sector.

We're looking for an experienced Principal Advisor - Technical Policy. This is an opportunity to take a lead role on some of the most significant technical policy issues facing New Zealand agriculture, influencing regulatory and policy outcomes across areas such as biosecurity, animal health and welfare, farm inputs, food safety, and market access.

About the role

You'll provide strategic policy leadership across a portfolio of technical issues that impact sheep and beef farmers. You'll proactively identify emerging risks and opportunities, develop evidence-based policy positions, and lead advocacy strategies that help ensure farmer perspectives are reflected in decision-making.

Working closely with senior leaders, industry partners, government agencies, and farmers, you'll be the voice of B+LNZ in technical working groups, consultation processes, and key stakeholder forums, leveraging strong relationships and industry credibility to influence policy, practice, and outcomes.

About you

You'll be a strategic thinker with strong policy expertise and a proven ability to influence complex policy environments. You'll bring:

• Significant experience in policy, regulatory affairs, government relations, or a related advisory role.
• Strong knowledge of government decision-making and policy development processes.
• Experience developing policy advice, influencing stakeholders, and driving advocacy outcomes.
• Exceptional research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities.
• The ability to build trusted relationships and credibility across government, industry, and sector stakeholders.
• A proactive approach, strong judgement, and the ability to anticipate and respond to emerging issues.
• Tertiary qualifications in agricultural science, biological sciences, economics, food technology, environmental science, or a related discipline.

Experience within the primary sector, agriculture, biosecurity, animal health, food safety, environmental policy, or related technical policy fields will be highly regarded.

This role is based in Wellington. You may be required to travel to represent Beef + Lamb New Zealand and participate in regional and national collaborative processes or similar forums.

What we offer

This career move builds your expertise in a field that contributes to one of New Zealand's most important export industries, and the New Zealand economy. We offer competitive remuneration and excellent employee benefits including additional leave entitlements, a fully-subsidised life insurance policy, and a work culture that values and rewards passion, integrity, professionalism and strong workplace relationships based on respect and whānau.

Only applicants who are eligible to work in New Zealand (permanent work rights with no restrictions) will be considered for this position.

Applications close 10am, Thursday 1 October 2026