Penguin Keeper Jobs in New Zealand

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 Alliance Group Pukeuri Plant just outside of Oamaru. 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 exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys problem solving and enhancing their relationships with others with effective communication. This is a permanent full-time role, 40 hours per week.

Alliance Pukeuri is a beef & sheep processing plant which operates on both day and night shifts, 7 days a week. Shift patterns will depend on time of the year which includes a mix of early, day time and late shifts. For half the year, shifts will include Monday - Friday, with occasional Saturday work and for the other half of the year shifts will include Monday – Saturday, with occasional Sunday work.

Any overtime is compensated and early starts, or late finishes are recognised with penal time payments, as well as shift leave accumulation.

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 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. MPI Verification Services (MPI VS) provides a range of food safety and biosecurity verification and certification services to support market access strategies and setting standards.

Reporting to a Supervising Veterinarian (VTS1) on site, you will work alongside other VTS2's as well as working closely with personnel at the plant. This position sits with the Establishment Team for Dunedin and may sometimes be required to work at other local meat establishments in the geographic area.

The premises is located just north of Oamaru in the Otago region. Oamaru is the steampunk capital of New Zealand and is famous for its Victorian buildings and heritage. The town is family-friendly and has heaps of local attractions including the blue penguin colony, the Alps-to-Ocean cycle trail, plenty of local beaches (including some good surfing spots) and is on the doorstep of the UNESCO recognised Waitaki Whitestone Geopark. Being on the East coast, Oamaru has a great climate, with plenty of sunny days.

Watch some of our team describe why they love the role that they are in and their journey into a career with Verification Services – Click Here



Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI

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

Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua - Benefits of working at MPI

• Annual Wellness payment and reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
• Professional membership reimbursement
• See the benefits of working at MPI

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