Incursion Investigator Animal Health/Animal Risk Goods

Incursion Investigator - Risk Goods Animal Health

Role type: Permanent

Location: Auckland or Upper Hutt

Salary band & range: General Salary Range $102,767 - $142,974 depending on skills and experience


About the Role - Korero mo te Turanga

Come join the Animal Health Incursion Investigation Team (Biosecurity Surveillance and Incursion Investigation Group), within Biosecurity New Zealand.

As an Incursion Investigator, you will act as the team's focal point for investigating notifications of exotic birds, reptiles and amphibians, and other animal risk items associated with import pathways into New Zealand.

You will:

Be a veterinarian with an interest in environmental and wildlife health
Undertake investigations of exotic, new and emerging animal diseases.
Support the wider animal health team by participating in the on-call rota and fulfilling core investigator duties - this involves afterhours duties to ensure 7 days a week/24 hour coverage
Manage the diagnosis, logistics, communication and decision-making during fast-paced and potentially high-profile investigations and responses.
Work effectively across numerous MPI teams, and with other government and non-government stakeholders
Effectively record, report and communicate investigations and their outcomes within databases and in stakeholder focused publications
Work for an organisation to grow and protect NZ's unique environment and primary industries
We offer a wide breadth of development and learning opportunities and would welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

About You - Mou

You must be a veterinarian with a degree registerable in New Zealand. The successful candidate should ideally also have experience in wildlife programmes or demonstrable skills and interest to pursue this area. In addition to your technical skills, you should be a good communicator who is able to manage projects and contracts, while maintaining strong relationships and consulting with a wide stakeholder base.

In addition, you will:

Strong analytical ability; a capacity to quickly identify and clearly express core elements of an issue, plan or proposal.
Excellent written and presentation skills, with an ability to produce and deliver material that is concise, fluent and clear.
Experience with scientific literature and ability to research and interpret scientific information and analyse investigation and survey results.
Proven record of teamwork, high self-motivation, initiative, decision making, sound judgement, and ability to work under pressure.
Ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and preferences, within and outside government.
You'll be someone who can work effectively within a team as well as independently when required. You will be motivated, have excellent communication skills, and exercise good judgment when confronted with an important issue.

About the Team - Mo to matou Ropu

The Animal Health Incursion Investigation Team includes eight veterinarians with diverse skills and experience. The team operates in a dynamic, high-trust environment to effectively contribute to New Zealand's biosecurity system. Our focus is on the rapid evaluation and investigation of notifications of exotic, new and emerging animal diseases as well as pests. We are largely based at Wallaceville, Upper Hutt, and work closely with MPI's Animal Health Laboratory scientists on the site.


One of our greatest assets is our people. We've got a team of highly qualified, passionate science professionals who get to work on a range of interesting projects. With employees from over 20 different countries, DRS is one of the most diverse, welcoming spaces in MPI.

Then there's our facilities. Our design-award winning Wallaceville biocontainment laboratory is one of the newest, most advanced biocontainment labs in the world. Opened in 2021, it's the most complex building in New Zealand.

All our labs are reference labs, so our team gets to work on complex cases, not just standard diagnostic activities. We have the best, highest qualified people - critical thinkers solving dynamic problems. You'll work on challenging, interesting and unusual cases - often things that are so new to biosecurity that no one else is working on them.

About MPI - Mo te Manatu Ahu Matua

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

Benefits of working at MPI - Nga hua o te mahi i te Manatu Ahu Matua

Additional MPI leave days
Annual Wellness payment
Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/about-mpi/careers/working-mpi/benefits/

Low level Security Clearance

most preferably a New Zealand citizen, who has resided continuously in New Zealand for at least the last five (5) years, OR
is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last five (5) years: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.
click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.
If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mo tenei mahi whaitake?
We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapu, whanau and hapori.

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 Manatu 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 FOR THIS JOB" 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 4th of February.

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

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