Business Support Associate- Fixed Term

**Business Support Associate**
**Partnerships & Growth (P&G)**
**Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand**
**Vacancy number: 58891**
**Fixed Term (Parental Leave Cover 5 months) Full-time, 38 hours per week (FTE)**

Join a dynamic business team at the forefront of science and technology innovation, supporting one of New Zealand's most vital sectors. Expand your professional network, grow your business development expertise, and work alongside great customers making a real impact.

**What you will be doing | Ngā whāinga matua**

You will be assisting the Business Managers in maximising business success and profitability. How:

- Contribute to Client management systems to drive key account management
- Understand market trends in relation to our clients' industries, communicate this to the Partnerships & Growth team
- Support and contribute to the development of new and existing projects and contribute to the development of new and existing relationships between Business Managers and their clients
- Undertake contract drafting, risk assessments, coversheets, variation drafting, budget review, invoicing, milestone reporting, system filing, confidentiality agreements, and student agreements.

A copy of the Position Description is available for you to view once you click on the 'apply' button.

**What you will bring | Ngā tino pūkenga me ngā wheako**

To be successful in this role, the minimum qualifications and skills required are:

- A relevant tertiary qualification, ideally combining science with business, marketing or a related discipline
- Theoretical business and commercial knowledge, ideally proven potential in these areas with sound business acumen
- Ideally knowledge of the New Zealand science and innovation system and/or technology development, or enthusiasm to learn about New Zealand's science and innovation system
- Skills and experience in project, financial and/or contract coordination and support, including skills in financial planning and management software tools (e.g. Excel, CRM)
- Ability to develop effective relationships with R&D personnel, and enthusiasm to work across different sectors or industries
- Proven sound communication and presentation skills.

**What you will get | Ngā hua o tēnei tūranga**

An exciting opportunity to work within a friendly, team based environment while you drive project activities with a focus on customers. Core activities include leading budgeting, contracting and project management within the Partnerships & Growth team to enable delivery of quality Research and Development outputs.

Become part of a Science based organisation that has an excellent reputation for being a great place to work At Plant & Food Research, we actively encourage your career development and work/life balance and offer excellent employee benefits, including onsite childcare facilities, free car-parking, generous leave provisions.

**About us | Ko wai mātou**

At Plant & Food Research, Rangahau Ahumāra Kai, we believe science can create a better future. By finding smarter, greener options today, we're helping secure the world we want to live in tomorrow. With our partners, we use world-leading science and technology to improve the way they grow, fish, harvest, create, prepare and share kai. We have 1000 people working across Aotearoa New Zealand and the world to help develop and deliver healthy foods from the world's most sustainable food systems. We are on our journey towards becoming a meaningful and trusted partner to Māori, promoting the weaving of Mātauranga Māori and science to create growth and success for all of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

You may be aware that as part of the Government's reset of the science, innovation and technology system, on 1 July 2025, AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research, and Scion have merged to form the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science, trading as the Bioeconomy Science Institute.

The Bioeconomy Science Institute merger will create a worldclass research organisation of globally significant size and scale, with over 2,000 employees — including scientists, researchers, and support staff. It will bring together fundamental science knowledge and expertise in the natural resources that underpin the bioeconomy and the native estate, alongside applied research capabilities in manufacturing, agritech and biotech, and the food and fibre sectors.

The combined expertise of our people will be key to driving innovation and commercial outcomes in the bioeconomy, using research and technology to support enduring economic growth and resilience, a healthy environment, and positive social outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand.

We welcome applicants who are excited to join us on this change journey.

Job Details
- Crown research institute
- Plant & Food Research
- Reference #
- 58891
- Posted on
- 30 Jul 2025
- Closes on
- 10 Aug 2025 23:55
- Location(s)
- Auckland
- Expertise
- Business Management & Support
- Job level(s)
- Experienced
-