Senior Animal Welfare & NAIT Investigator

Ministry for Primary Industries; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 76,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional MPI leave days

Annual Wellness payment

Bi-annual eye test and corrective lens

Job summary

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in Dunedin is seeking a Senior/Animal Welfare Inspector to lead animal welfare and NAIT investigations, working between the field and office. You will engage with farmers, partners and internal teams to uphold the integrity of New Zealand's primary sector.

You may hold statutory appointments, lead enforcement actions, and contribute to readiness and response activities across regional and national levels.

Qualifications

• Strong relationship management skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to plan, manage and prioritise multiple investigations.
• Experience conducting investigations, applying enforcement powers, preparing prosecution cases and presenting evidence in court.
• Knowledge of animal husbandry, production systems, and primary sector operations.
• Understanding of primary industry organisations, NAIT agencies, animal welfare networks and biosecurity systems.
• Firearms licence or ability to obtain one; training provided for safe use of firearms.

Responsibilities

• Primarily hold statutory appointments as an Animal Welfare Inspector and NAIT Officer.
• Hold other appointments as required (e.g., Animal Products Act, Biosecurity Act).
• Identify, assess and progress breaches of the Animal Welfare and NAIT Acts, leading investigations and prosecution files.
• Participate in readiness and response activities using the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS).
• Support regional and national animal welfare emergency management coordination.
• Build and sustain relationships with SPCA, NZ Police, OSPRI, emergency management agencies, and sector stakeholders.
• Regularly update investigation files in MPI data systems.
• Be prepared to travel regionally and nationally as required.

Job description

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in Dunedin is seeking a Senior/Animal Welfare Inspector to lead animal welfare and NAIT investigations, working between the field and office. You will engage with farmers, partners and internal teams to uphold the integrity of New Zealand's primary sector.

You may hold statutory appointments, lead enforcement actions, and contribute to readiness and response activities across regional and national levels.