Senior Adviser Food Act Businesses

Role Overview

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking a motivated and experienced Senior Adviser to enhance and expand support services for domestic food businesses under the Food Act. Based in Auckland, this full-time permanent position involves developing and sustaining effective communication channels to deliver regulatory guidance and advice tailored for small enterprises in the food industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and nurture relationships with crucial industry stakeholders, including wholesalers, distributors, and ingredient suppliers, to facilitate trusted advice for small food businesses.
• Streamline and optimize accessibility of food safety information, customizing content for various market segments to improve usability and comprehension.
• Collaborate with internal MPI experts, transforming complex regulatory knowledge into clear and actionable guidance for businesses.
• Utilize data analytics to detect trends, challenges, and pain points influencing diverse food sectors.
• Represent New Zealand Food Safety at prominent industry gatherings, requiring occasional travel within the country.
• Adapt and respond flexibly to evolving project scopes and organizational priorities as the program transitions from project phase to business-as-usual operations.

Candidate Profile

• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical issues into straightforward, understandable advice.
• Proven success in building and maintaining effective partnerships across varied business groups utilizing strong influencing skills.
• Demonstrated leadership in planning, organizing, and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Experience understanding and managing client needs across diverse segments.
• Ability to navigate organizational dynamics and reconcile competing priorities while maintaining professionalism.
• Confidence in managing high-visibility roles involving senior leadership engagement and program delivery.
• Possession of a tertiary qualification or at least three years of equivalent professional experience.
• Knowledge of food technology or science is beneficial but not mandatory.
• Familiarity with food regulations and experience in the food sector — such as manufacturing, hospitality, auditing, or consultancy — is highly advantageous but not essential.

About the Team

The Regulatory Advice Service (RAS) within MPI provides critical daily communication and support to New Zealand food businesses, guiding them through regulatory frameworks supporting imports, exports, and domestic operations. The Imported and Domestic Food Regulatory Advice (IDFRA) team specializes in assisting businesses under the Food Act. This close-knit team prioritizes customer-centric collaboration. While RAS is predominantly Wellington-based, this position is located in Auckland (Māngere) for strategic stakeholder proximity.

About MPI

The Ministry for Primary Industries partners with New Zealand’s food and fiber sector striving to be the global leader in delivering premium quality food and fiber products.

Benefits

• Additional MPI leave entitlements beyond standard leave
• Annual wellness payment
• Paid eye exams every two years along with a contribution towards corrective lenses and frames

Equal Opportunity and Application Information

MPI is dedicated to honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi through collaborative work with iwi, hapū, whānau, and communities. The organization aims to reflect the diversity of the communities served and encourages applications from all backgrounds and identities. Applicants are invited to share their values, motivations, relevant skills, and diverse perspectives in the cover letter. Eligible applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand or the ability to obtain it.

Applications close at midnight, Wednesday 29 July 2026. For inquiries, contact Olivia Murphy at MPI.