Job Title:

Veterinarian (VTS2)
Role type: Permanent, Full-Time
Location: Balclutha | South Otago
Salary range: $93,923 to $117,404 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

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 meat exporting premises. To support the meat industry and New Zealand's reputation in the world red meat market for the product produced and to ensure food safety and export standards are being followed by the premises.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys problem solving and enhancing their relationships with others with effective communication.
The role is varied, and your day will be filled with the following:

Collaborate well with internal and external stakeholders, such as meat works personnel, Veterinary colleagues/VS team
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
Maintain knowledge within the farming communities and be involved in on farm verification
Ensure animal welfare is being maintained.

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
We are looking for someone who is adaptable and can thrive in a complex and sometimes ambiguous environment. The ideal person will be able to think creatively, prioritise work, and is interested in learning new skills.

To be successful in this role you will need:

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.

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply, but you do need to be a registered veterinarian. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team
Reporting to the Team Manager Establishment Dunedin, the role is based at Silver Fern Farms Finegand, a meat processing premises in Balclutha, South Otago. The role sits within the Establishment group of the Verification Services directorate. The plant processes sheep and beef for all major export markets and has a knowledge team of supportive verifiers on site. This role is suitable for newer verifiers to develop their knowledge, or those seeking to put down roots in a rural town based in the picturesque South Island of New Zealand.
You will work closely with a Supervising Veterinarian (VTS1) and one other VTS2 to provide MPI VS services, working shared shifts Monday to Friday, with some Saturday mornings during the busy season. The team will work on the day shift for half the year, where the other half of the year consists of triple shifts (with the night shift ending at 1.30am) which is rotated amongst the team on site.
Balclutha is a small rural town situated within a picturesque farming landscape. As the largest town in the Otago region, and the gateway to the Catlins coast, Balclutha has a range of shops and services, yet it is only 20 minutes from stunning beaches and headlands, including Kaka Point. For those looking to explore the South Island, you are just a one hour drive to Dunedin, and less than three hours to the snow of Queenstown.

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.
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

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

Professional membership reimbursement
Additional MPI leave days
Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation

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 under the application process, on pre-employment checks page.

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, whanau 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 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 midnight on Sunday 21 April.
If you have any questions about the role, please email Louise.Devine@mpi.govt.nz

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