Specialist Systems Auditor – Food Safety Assurance

About the role

The Systems Audit Team within New Zealand Food Safety’s Assurance Directorate delivers independent assurance that regulatory systems protect the $50 billion food and primary industries export sector. As a Specialist Systems Auditor you will test, demonstrate and continuously improve these systems across meat, dairy, seafood, laboratories, animal welfare and bio‑security.

Key responsibilities

• Undertake regulatory assurance and systems audit activities across New Zealand’s food and primary production sectors.
• Assess the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks, verification systems and assurance arrangements.
• Facilitate and host overseas competent authority audits, both onsite and remote.
• Provide technical expertise to accreditation bodies such as IANZ and JASANZ.
• Identify emerging risks, system weaknesses and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support development of assurance systems that maintain domestic and international confidence.
• Contribute to the team’s Quality Management System and Health, Safety and Wellbeing programmes.

Required profile

• Technically strong professional with a natural curiosity for regulatory systems.
• Existing expertise in at least one primary production sector (e.g., meat, dairy, seafood).
• Willingness to travel extensively across New Zealand, including day trips, overnight stays and audits up to three weeks.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with industry leaders, regulators and international authorities.

Required skills