Senior Adviser Animal Welfare

Ministry for Primary Industries NZ; Wellington; On-site; NZD 103,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual wellness payment

Career development opportunities

Professional membership reimbursement

Job summary

The Ministry for Primary Industries NZ is seeking two Senior Advisers in Wellington. These positions offer a chance to shape practical animal welfare outcomes, influencing the development and implementation of standards nationwide.

As a Senior Adviser, you will analyze evidence, interpret the Animal Welfare Act, and collaborate on high-quality solutions. Strong communication and analytical skills are essential, alongside experience in animal welfare or related fields.

Qualifications

• Experience in animal welfare, animal health, veterinary, regulatory, or policy fields.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills necessary.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement animal welfare standards, codes, and guidance.
• Interpret legislation and provide robust advice.
• Prepare high-quality briefings and stakeholder communications.
• Build relationships with advisory committees and industry groups.
• Contribute to a varied work programme and collaborate with colleagues.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Strong communication

Stakeholder engagement

Policy development

Animal welfare expertise

Education

Qualification in veterinary science

Qualification in biological sciences

Law or public policy

Job description

Ministry for Primary Industries NZ – Wellington Central, North Island

Salary band & range: General Salary Range D: $102,953 - $120,365 depending on skills and experience

Shape practical animal welfare outcomes for New Zealand

We're looking for two Senior Advisers to join our Animal Welfare team. These roles offer a unique opportunity to influence the development and implementation of animal welfare standards and guidance that support effective, evidence-based outcomes across New Zealand.

Animal welfare issues are often complex, highly visible, and involve balancing diverse perspectives. You'll analyse evidence, interpret and apply the Animal Welfare Act, understand animal welfare science, and provide balanced advice on issues where there are rarely simple answers.

If you're motivated by tackling difficult issues, exercising sound judgement, and contributing to a trusted regulatory system, we'd like to hear from you.

As a Senior Adviser, you'll help develop, review, and implement animal welfare standards and guidance. Drawing on legislation, science, and evidence, you'll provide practical advice and solutions on issues that often attract significant public and stakeholder interest.

In this role, you will:

• Develop and implement animal welfare standards, codes, and guidance.
• Interpret legislation, scientific evidence, and technical information to provide robust advice and recommendations.
• Prepare high-quality briefings, Ministerial correspondence, consultation material, and stakeholder communications.
• Build productive relationships with advisory committees, industry groups, animal welfare organisations, and government agencies.
• Navigate issues involving scientific, ethical, social, economic, and political considerations.
• Contribute to a varied work programme and collaborate with colleagues to deliver high-quality outcomes.

You're an analytical thinker who can assess complex information, exercise sound judgement, and communicate clearly with a range of audiences. You may come from a veterinary, animal health, biological science, regulatory, policy, or advisory background.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Experience in animal welfare, animal health, veterinary, regulatory, policy, science, or a related field.
• The ability to interpret legislation and apply it to real-world situations.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing advice, standards, guidance, policy, or regulatory products.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• A collaborative, team-focused approach.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work.

A qualification in veterinary science, animal welfare science, biological sciences, law, public policy, or a related discipline would be advantageous, but equivalent experience and capability are equally valued.

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.

We're a small team with a significant and varied programme of work. We work closely together, sharing expertise and supporting one another to deliver practical, evidence-based outcomes.

Team fit is important to us. We're looking for people who are approachable, collaborative, and enjoy working with others to solve problems. We take our work seriously, but not ourselves, and value people who contribute positively to the team environment. If you bring expertise, curiosity, good judgement, and a sense of humour, you'll fit right in.

These roles are based in Wellington and require regular office attendance. Applicants must already be based in Wellington or be able to relocate. Remote or hybrid working are not available.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

• Annual Wellness payment
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
• Professional membership reimbursement

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.

Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 13th September 2026.

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