Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

The purpose of this role within New Zealand Food Safety Verification Services is to provide a range of food safety, animal welfare, and biosecurity verification and certification services based at Silver Fern Farms Finegand plant. You will support the meat industry and New Zealand's reputation in the world red meat market for the product produced and ensure food safety and export standards are being followed by the plant.

We have an excellent opportunity available for a veterinarian, it offers a great work life balance!

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 judgement 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.

Mōu - About You

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, email
• It is advantageous if you have knowledge of HACCP/Quality Assurance in Food Safety however, this is included in your training.

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team

The role sits within the Establishment group of the Verification Services directorate. Reporting to a Supervising Veterinarian (VTS1) and working alongside another VTS2, this role is suitable for newer verifiers to build up their knowledge of a wide variety of plant processing, or those looking to put down roots in a rural town.

Silver Fern Farms Finegand plant is a large cattle and sheep slaughtering plant a few minutes drive south of Balclutha. This position covers various (morning and late/night) shifts throughout the year and you will be expected to rotate shifts as required. Some Saturday processing occurs and you would be expected to participate in the Saturday roster.

Balclutha sits on the banks of the mighty Clutha River and is the nearest large town to the Catlins, a scenic region of native forest, wildlife and rugged coastline. The town is about an hour south of Dunedin and 45 minutes from the airport, which is about to recommence direct flights to Australia.



Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro - Drug and Alcohol Screening

Please note, 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.



Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake? - Are you ready to make a difference?

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.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “Apply” or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.



Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday, 5 January

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