Customer Manager

This role is based in our Wellington NZTE office.

Who are we

Te Taurapa Tūhono | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) purpose is simple – to grow companies internationally, bigger, better and faster, for the good of New Zealand.

You would be joining the Export Customer team - we are a friendly passionate team of commercially astute ambitious Customer Managers.

What you'll be doing

In this role, you will manage a portfolio of New Zealand brands across the Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods sector. Leveraging your strong international commercial experience, understanding of how to grow and scale start-ups to become successful, as well as your know-how and know-who networks, you will support businesses' growth strategies across a variety of verticals.  You will know what it takes for a DTC or B2B2C business to drive success and grow across retail and digital channels.  This position is ideal for someone who is highly commercial, enjoys working at pace, and is driven by the opportunity to help businesses grow so they can export to the world.

Your customers will be growth focused exporters at various stages of maturity.  You will be engaging with them to plan and deliver a work programme to strengthen their confidence and capability to export.  You will work closely with your portfolio of customers to deeply understand their businesses. You will support them as they navigate challenges and opportunities while shaping their international growth strategies.

You'll be able to advise on how to navigate the complexities of FBCG regulatory aspects in international markets and how to best position their products in market with the right audience targeted for maximum success. Together, you'll build a work programme to help them achieve their goals. You'll be a trusted and empathetic communicator, coach, and problem solver, connecting your customers to the right experts and tools to facilitate their success.

What you'll need to be successful

The successful person for this role will need to be truly customer centric; that means you will really understand your customers' opportunities and challenges, including sharing the same beliefs and plan. This will be done by connecting to customers with empathy, credibility, and commercial nous. Commercial export experience in the Food, Beverages or Consumer Goods sectors and understanding of the New Zealand export business ecosystem will help build credibility with customers. You what is takes to grow a business successfully and the international landscape.

A self-starter who embraces change and enjoys working at pace, you'll work independently while building strong relationships within the broader NZTE global team.  Your enthusiastic attitude, proactive nature, problem-solving skills, and ability to work in virtual teams will be critical to your success. You'll also be tech savvy, with solid CRM, marketing, go to market strategy, and business models experience. 

You will also:

·       Be a skilled communicator capable of building rapport and developing influential relationships at all levels and across all types of organisations.

·       Bring energy and enthusiasm to the role, contributing to the positive culture within our team.

·       Be commercially astute and able to provide practical business advice to help exporters grow.

·       Demonstrate resilience and adaptability, eager to roll up your sleeves and work alongside your customers.

Why you'll love working here

NZTE offers flexible working arrangements of 3 days in the office (or out with customers), a fun and stimulating environment, with a unique opportunity to develop and access world class business networks and work with a talented, diverse international team.

If this opportunity sounds like you and you want to be part of an organisation with a mission to support kiwi ingenuity around the world, we'd like to hear from you.  For more info about the benefits and life at NZTE visit -

What's next

Please apply online attaching a CV and cover letter by Sunday 9 November at 11:59pm NZT.

The Position Description can be found here: Customer Manager

Please note: The legal right to live and work in NZ is required to apply for this role.

This role is banded NZ Level 17.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is an equal opportunity employer. At NZTE it is all about our people and we seek diversity of thought; we welcome and encourage you to apply regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurodiversity or disability. If we need to make specific accommodations in any part of the interview process, please note this in your application or discuss with the recruiter.