Kobelco Country Manager

**Job reference - 35749**
- Responsible for the Kobelco NZ Auckland dealership and leading the NZ business
- Senior leadership role directing all operations and business divisions
- Kobelco will directly distribute its market-leading excavators in New Zealand

**About Kobelco Construction Machinery**

Kobelco Construction Machinery is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kobelco Construction Machinery in Japan, with sales and aftermarket support responsibility for Oceania including Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea.

To continue its growth in the region, Kobelco has recently announced that it will directly distribute its market-leading excavators in NZ by implementing a streamlined direct-to-market strategy.

The NZ operations are planned to grow the Kobelco NZ market position with superior operational excellence. There is a desire to emulate the success of the Australian business, which is one of the highest selling brands of heavy excavator, reflecting the investment made by Kobelco Japan for continuing growth across the Oceania region.

**The**
**Kobelco Construction Machinery**
**Role**

This role is the most senior role for Kobelco in NZ. It is responsible for leading the business, directing all operations, ensuring overall profitability, and setting the strategy for development and growth. The role will be based in South Auckland reporting to the Managing Director of Kobelco Construction Machinery for Oceania.

Duties include but are not limited to:

- Overall responsibility for all staff employed by Kobelco NZ in all business divisions
- Represent the company in New Zealand for relationships with customers, suppliers, service providers, financiers, and relevant authorities
- Lead the organisation's employees with a contemporary human resources management approach to build a winning business culture
- Ensure all departments follow best practice to maximise efficiencies including administration, facilities, customer service, human resources, job allocation, profitability, safety, and quality
- Accountable for the dealership finances and maintaining profitable sales, parts, and local and national service support
- Achieve all sales, financial, and operation targets
- Comply with all standards of New Zealand legislative requirements
- Forecasting volume and model mix of machines for the New Zealand market
- Responsible for overseeing the appointment of all New Zealand staff
- Meet all KPI’s associated with the position
- Appointment and management of a national network of authorised service providers
- Drive continuous improvements across all areas of the New Zealand operations

**_ A full job description is available upon request_**

**The skills sought**
- Minimum of 10 years' commercial experience in the construction equipment, heavy equipment, or diesel sector with at least 5 years of leadership experience
- Strategic agility to anticipate the market trends and consequences; able to create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans
- Customer focused for both sales and service support
- Ability to make quality decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement
- Strong leadership personality with an ability to develop people, supported by excellent written and verbal communication
- Knowledge of the excavator product in the New Zealand market and the competitive landscape
- Tertiary qualifications will be highly regarded, particularly in the area of business or marketing
- Regular travel, both domestic and international will be required

**The challenge and reward**

This Country Manager role will prove a significant opportunity to significantly grow the Kobelco NZ business leading the NZ operations to new levels of excellence.

Confidential enquiries can be made by calling Russell Phillips or Keith Naude on 0800 67 57 47 or directly via mobile on 027 479 0000 (Russell) or 021 271 3202 (Keith).