Veterinary Technical Supervisor 2

About MPI

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 use of resources, and protect New Zealand from biological risks. 

Veterinarians play a big part in the work MPI does in New Zealand and across the global market, so we're passionate about finding skilled professionals to help us achieve these goals. 

MPI is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest employer of veterinarians. We have more than 300 vets working for us around the country and overseas. Our veterinarians provide valuable technical expertise and are recognised as trusted advisers at MPI and in the wider public service. 

As a public service veterinarian at MPI, you'll have the opportunity to work on diverse and challenging projects in areas such as Verification Services, Biosecurity, Market Access and Animal Welfare. Whether you're an early-career vet or have a broad portfolio of both technical and non-technical experience, there's a place for you at MPI.

About Verification Services

At Verification Services, our core purpose is to deliver independent, cost-effective, and high-quality verification, certification, inspection, and clearance programs that meet all regulatory requirements. 

We're committed to providing a range of food safety and biosecurity verification and certification services to at least 2,000 processing companies across New Zealand, including the meat, seafood, game, and dairy industries. 

Export meat is a significant area of focus for MPI Verification Services, accounting for 80% of our activities. Our work encompasses farms, abattoirs, meat and fish packhouses, cold storage facilities, and other specialised premises processing animal products. 

As a veterinarian with MPI Verification Services, you'll have the opportunity to work on diverse and challenging projects in the food safety and biosecurity sectors, making a real difference to the safety and quality of our agricultural products.

The purpose of this position is to undertake verification activities in line with current legislation and organisational requirements, thereby permitting the issue of official assurances.

As an employee of the Ministry, you are required to:

• Respond to the changing needs of the Ministry, performing other tasks as reasonably required
• Participate in responses (using the New Zealand Coordinated Incident Management System) if required and support others to participate in response as required.
• Maintain a strict sense of professional ethics, maintaining confidentiality and privacy, and abiding by MPI’s Code of Conduct
  
  

Responsibilities

The role is varied, and you will be expected to do the following:

• Undertake verification activities in line with current legislation and organisational requirements, thereby permitting the issue of official assurances
• Verify that requirements and procedures are being followed
• Provide certification for animal meat exports
• Complete ante mortem inspections and occasionally provide judgment on post-mortem inspection
• Ensure animal welfare is being maintained
• Maintain knowledge within the farming communities and be involved in on-farm verification
• Collaborate well with internal and external stakeholders, such as meat works personnel, Veterinary colleagues/VS team.

You will receive full-time technical training prior to being warranted under the relevant legislation. We have ongoing, on-site training, mentoring and technical support for you in your new role.

Veterinary Technical Supervisor (VTS1)

This role suits vets who are self-motivated, organised, calm under pressure and comfortable working with regulation, evidence and professional judgement. 

You’ll need to be able to work independently, communicate clearly with operators, and manage situations where there may not always be a simple black-and-white answer.

The successful candidate will: 

• Be a New Zealand registered Veterinarian (Or be able to obtain registration with VCNZ) 
• Hold a full New Zealand driver's licence (or be able to obtain a full NZ licence by converting a current overseas driver's licence) 
• Have verbal and written skills, and analytical reasoning skills 
• Demonstrate integrity and trust, ethics and values, resilience, adaptability, and openness 
• Have experience persuading and influencing, teamwork, planning and organising 
• Have computer literacy – can operate standard and customised software to an acceptable standard, including word-processing, Excel, internet, and email 

It is advantageous if you know HACCP/Quality Assurance in Food Safety; however, this is included in your training.

Salary range: VTS Salary Range 9: NZ$99,634 to NZ$124,542 depending on skills and experience. 

Starting salary will be dependent on skills and experience of the successful applicant.

In addition to salary, we offer overtime, penal time and shift allowances.

Working patterns: 

Working patterns vary by site and season. Many roles follow a 5 x 8 roster, with early, mid and evening/night shifts. 

Some locations operate 4 x 10 patterns. 

Night shifts are usually eight-hour shifts rather than full overnight shifts, and shift allowances apply for unsocial hours.

A typical day may include ante-mortem checks, responding to welfare or compliance queries, completing audit work, reviewing operator processes, signing export certification, and liaising with plant teams. 

There is a mix of practical plant-based work, desk-based regulatory work, and occasional on-farm verification.

You do not need to arrive as a food safety expert. 

New VTS2s receive around 6–8 weeks of structured technical training before being warranted, followed by ongoing on-site training, mentoring, HACCP, audit and certification support. 

You don’t need to have come from a production-animal background.

MPI welcomes vets from:

• clinical practice

• academia

• lecturing

• large animal

• mixed practice

• equine

• public health

• international backgrounds

We also want to challenge a few common misconceptions about this sector:

• Modern abattoirs are highly regulated, clean, and technologically advanced workplaces.
• Veterinary public health is a genuine and rewarding career pathway in its own right, not a fallback option.
• You do not need prior experience in food safety before starting; training is provided.
• The role is far broader than “meat inspection” and includes animal welfare oversight, certification, auditing, export assurance, regulation, and collaborative stakeholder work.

• MPI is an accredited employer with Immigration New Zealand.

• The visa process is employer-led after offer acceptance.

• MPI applies for approval to hire the candidate, then the candidate applies using the token.

• Visa timelines vary; some candidates are ready within 1–2 months, others take 3–4 months.

• International relocation support is typically up to NZ$20,000, subject to approval.

• This may cover flights, four weeks’ accommodation, moving costs, family relocation and visa costs.

• MPI supports settling in, including practical help with flights,  accommodation, healthcare, phone setup, etc.

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.

This can be a long-term veterinary career pathway. 

Many VTS2s progress internally into Supervising Veterinarian roles, regional leadership, or wider MPI opportunities in areas such as biosecurity, animal welfare, market access and advisory work. 

• Professional membership and annual practicing certificate reimbursement
• Annual Wellness payment
• Additional MPI leave days

The role sits within the Establishment group of the Verification Services directorate. Reporting to the Veterinary Technical Supervisor 1 at ME21 and working with another Veterinary Technical Supervisor 2 (VTS2) reports, this role is suitable for veterinarians to build upon their knowledge in a plant processing setting, or those looking to put down roots in a rural town.

Many current vacancies are in regional or rural communities. 

These locations can offer an exceptional outdoor lifestyle, close-knit communities and easy access to hiking, fishing, camping and travel. 

They may suit candidates or families looking for a slower pace, space and adventure, but they are not always city-based roles.

Please note that, given this position is safety sensitive, the preferred applicant/s for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site, here.

If you have any questions about this or similar roles, please email Luke.Farrell@mpi.govt.nz