Kō wai mātou? Who are we?
Zespri is more than simply the world's single-largest marketer of kiwifruit. We like to think of ourselves as fruit on a mission and as rebels with a cause: to help people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit. We are proudly the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit, selling kiwifruit in more than 50 countries. We work with around 2,800 New Zealand and 1,500 international growers and post-harvest companies to source the best-quality Zespri Kiwifruit which we supply through our distribution partners to wholesale and retail customers. We are one of New Zealand's best-known international brands, dedicated to creating sustainable long-term value for growers.
He aha te mahi? What's the role?
Zespri International Limited, the world’s leading kiwifruit marketer, has the responsibility of connecting growers to consumer and market signals, empowering them to make choices that deliver optimal market returns. A strong and trusting relationship between Zespri International Limited and the grower community growers and wider stakeholders is critical to the success of the kiwifruit industry. This role involves advocacy, communication, and relationship management, supporting the key interface between Zespri and the Kiwifruit Growing Community. It contributes to the development and implementation of the grower engagement strategy, helping the team proactively lead engagement with growers and stakeholder groups. The role also involves working closely with senior managers, Executive members, and grower directors, and supports the communication of grower sentiment across the business to embed this sentiment into decision-making.
Accountabilities include:
- Connect Zespri to the Kiwifruit growing community within a defined geographic region including a tailored approach to connect with the various grower cohorts and stakeholder groups including consideration of the broad cultural diversity.
- Implement the grower and industry engagement plan and build and maintain a strong network of relationships and in-depth grower knowledge within your assigned region/growers.
- Actively support positive grower sentiment and influence grower knowledge and behaviour towards strategic industry initiatives such as future producer votes through communicating and discussing Zespri’s key messages with growers and stakeholders.
- Engage key industry stakeholder groups, proactively leading the relationship development and regularly presenting and facilitating discussions. This includes supporting senior managers, Executive members and Grower Directors with industry engagement.
- Engage with the post-harvest grower relations network as a key stakeholder group.
- Support a close partnership with NZKGI including grower forum members.
- Support the connection and alignment between Zespri management and functional teams and Zespri Grower Relations, connecting them to the grower engagement strategy and grower sentiment and ensuring a strong and timely two-way information flow.
- Ownership of specific responsibility areas, closely connecting with defined areas of the business to support the flow of key information and updates to the Grower Relations team. This includes establishing effective mechanisms to empower and inform the team, as well as gathering and conveying grower sentiment to guide and influence decision-making.
Ko wai koe? Who are you?
The successful candidate will have:
- Highly developed relationship management, presentation and facilitation skills
- Good understanding and experience in customer service
- A broad understanding of the horticultural industry and Zespri’s strategy as it relates to both growers and industry stakeholders
- The ability to work flexible hours (including weekends and nights as required)
- Flexibility to travel as required (NZ and offshore)
- Proven ability to manage multiple programmes of work delivering high-quality thinking and driving execution via fully engaged teams
- Relevant industry experience and broad industry knowledge is preferred
- A relevant tertiary qualification is also preferred
He aha e tika ai a Zespri? Why Zespri?
Our people are what makes our culture so irresistible and uniquely Zespri. We are a passionate and mighty team of 850+ employees in 23 different locations globally. Working at Zespri is an opportunity to join a fast-paced, culture-driven environment unlike any other. We want people who share our values of being personally connected, results-driven, and committed to guardianship. Join us in shaping our future and be part of a truly unique organisation.
- Competitive overall remuneration package
- FlexWELL flexible work ethos; WFH and the office
- Additional paid annual leave day per year (Zespri Day)
- Additional paid volunteer day to volunteer within your community (Volunteer Time)
- Global Life and Permanent Disability Insurance
- Group Medical Insurance benefits
- Convenient Mount Maunganui office location, with free onsite parking
- Your daily dose of Vitamin C with free kiwifruit!
Tono mai inaianei! Apply Now! Applications close Thursday 30 January 2025.
At Zespri, we understand the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences, and a fair hiring process is the first step to getting there. We want to attract a diverse range of people and encourage everyone from all backgrounds and walks of life to apply. Please let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments to take part in the recruitment and selection process by reaching out to our Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@zespri.com.
Agency
Zespri will not accept applications or contact from any temporary staffing agency, placement service or professional recruiter for this vacancy (“Agency”).
Where Zespri requires the support of an agency to fulfil a vacancy, we will proactively seek this support from our network of Agencies. We respectfully ask that you do not contact Zespri or any of its affiliates/employees regarding vacancies, and reserve the right not to reply.
Zespri will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any fees, commissions or other payments related to such unsolicited resumes.
