Co-operative Services Area Manager-Fonterra, New Zealand

Job Description

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Since our beginnings, collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world. We’re committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved here in New Zealand and around the world.
As part of the Fonterra Co-op, you’ll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk.
When you join Fonterra, you’ll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.

About us

• We love kiwi dairy farmers and think they’re pretty awesome. For generations they have relied on hard work, ingenuity, and each other, to create the kind of goodness that fuels our families, connects our communities and supports our economy.
• At Farm Source, our team is driven by the same co-operative spirit that our farmers and their communities share. We make farming easier so farmers can continue to concentrate on what they do best – producing high quality New Zealand milk in the most sustainable way.
• This means growing and supporting the right people – people with plenty of roll-your-sleeves up energy to rise to the challenge. Whether you’re on the farm getting your gumboots dirty or connecting over a coffee at our local stores, you’ll be getting the mahi done as part of a trusted team – backed by good people, the right products, innovative solutions, and industry-leading expertise.

So why not join us

• Our regional structure and openness to flexible working means that there really is something for everyone. No matter your age or stage, our inclusive culture has created a place where everyone can thrive.

About the opportunity

This role will be based out of Invercargill

• Everything starts on farm. Our Co-operative’s foundation lies in the work done by our farmers, and it is their efforts that shape and strengthen our Co-op. In a competitive environment it is therefore imperative that we build a belief and connection with the Co-op that encourages sustainable milk supply and continued investment in the Co-operative.
• As our Co-operative Services Area Manager, you’ll be developing engagement plans to retain farmers’ milk, encourage loyalty, and foster continued milk growth and reinvestment in the Co-operative. Your focus will be enhancing Farm Source’s reputation by providing expert technical advice to support strong farm businesses in co-operative and prosperity/milk and shares meeting farmer’s needs.
• You’ll be developing strong relationships with key stakeholders, understanding farmer needs, and implementing effective regional engagement strategies to increase farmer group participation. A key part of this role is advocating for farmers, connecting with local rural professionals and external stakeholders, and supporting the Regional Managers as needed.

About you

You must be highly organized, proactive, bring second-to-none communication skills and an ability to effectively engage with people from all parts of the industry. You will need to be resilient, able to negotiate tricky situations and stakeholders, and have excellent attention to detail. Naturally curious and passionate about the agriculture space, your customer focused approach and ability to build rapport quickly will help you succeed in this rewarding role

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate the following qualities:

• Customer-focused approach, dedicated to understanding and fulfilling customer needs
• The ability to initiate compelling conversations that resonate with our farmers
• Strong verbal communication skills to effectively convey ideas and build rapport
• Commercial acumen, enabling you to understand business dynamics and opportunities
• Adept at understanding customer needs and tailoring your approach accordingly

The benefits of life at Fonterra

• Our people and what they bring to our Co-op shape our success. We have a collaborative culture, inspiring leaders, and passionate people, making Fonterra a great place to work. We also offer competitive remuneration and a range of benefits, regardless of your role or location.
• We offer flexible working to ensure the job gets done whilst being there for life’s important moments.
• With a global presence, a world of career opportunities awaits you.
• We support your health and wellbeing with events, discounts on wellbeing products, and employee assistance programs.
• We encourage lifelong learning and will help you develop your skills.
• Enjoy discounted health insurance based on your employment type and location.
• No matter your life stage or choices, we have leave options, including purchasing additional leave, enhanced parental benefits, and long-service leave.