Head of Commercial Services

• Work on the business, not in the business
• Competitive remuneration, benefits, flexible working
• Work for Kiwi-owned - Aotearoa's largest farming co-operative

Mō te whai waahi | About the opportunity

Due to internal promotion we have a rare opportunity available for a Head of Commercial Services to join our Merchandising Team. Our tight knit, knowledgeable and experienced team has been a backbone of Farmlands' business transformation to date and we are looking for an ambitious leader to drive us to the next level.

Reporting to the Chief Merchandising Officer, you will be responsible for:

• Leading the commercial analysis, planning, process development and execution that supports category management excellence.
• Reviewing and advising on the commercial and contractual relationships with key partners and ensure that commercial terms are favourable, accurately recorded in the chosen systems, reviewed for delivery monthly, and realised.
• Leading Merchandise team improvement, technology and innovation projects to ensure maximum commercial results and productivity, whilst ensuring that a high service level is provided to internal and external customers.
• Leading an efficient and effective Master Data team focussed on the accurate, timely processing and execution of required master file updates, and the development of Master data attributes and structures to support the Farmlands strategic plan.

This is a senior leadership position where you will lead a wider team, shape our strategy and influence critical decision-making processes. 

Mōhou ake | About you

You’ll be a highly skilled professional in a senior management position in an equivalent Merchandise, Category Management or Supply Chain related role. You may come from an FMCG background.

In order to win you'll also need:

• Strong commercial acumen in retail operations category management and supply chain operations
• Experience in product life cycle management
• High level of communication, influencing and negotiation skills
• Familiarity with techniques and technologies to improve category management and selling processes
• Strategic planning, project planning and execution ability
• The ability to seek and implement new opportunities, challenge the norm, and think outside the box
• Results orientation and a passion for continuous improvement

Mō ngā painga | About the benefits

We offer a vast range of benefits such as: 

• Competitive remuneration package
• Service-related benefits
• Paid birth leave
• Sick leave from Day 1
• Flexible working conditions 
• Access to training through our online library, The Greenhouse
• Staff discounts at Farmlands Retail Stores
• Exclusive Farmlands shareholding offer providing access to a vast array of discounts with our Card Partners
• Additional support for parents - 10 weeks of fully paid parental leave for primary carers and 2 weeks' paid partner's leave
• Free parking at our Support Office
• Close to a range of eateries and gyms - with great coffee just down the road
• Pet-friendly office - bring your (well-behaved) furry friend to work

Te Tono | How to apply

Apply online with your CV and cover letter and we'll do the rest. We'd love to hear from you and know you'll most definitely grow your career - and us - at Farmlands.

Applications close: Thursday 27 March. 

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.

Mō matou | About us

At Farmlands - Te Whenua Tāroa, our vision is to be the ‘go-to for everyone connected to our land’. We’re always backing Kiwi’s – rain or shine, year in, year out. We work as one – we help each other, we win together. We’re rural people supporting our rural communities looking after our land and our people.

From our humble beginnings in 1962, we’ve become New Zealand's largest farming co-operative. With an annual turnover of more than $2.3 billion and a team of over 1200, you’ll find us in over 80 locations from Cape Reinga to Bluff. With a strong core retail business, we have a well-established shareholder card network (75,000+ shareholders and 7,000+ card partner locations), with operations dealing in areas from feed production, nutrition and agronomy, to ecommerce, fuel, and distribution.

We came from a generation of greatness with people joining together to do things differently. It gives us the solid foundation to move on, focus on the future and use our creativity and ingenuity to build Farmlands for the next generation with our minds open.

We are a 2024 Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.

Please note that the successful candidate will have to go through pre-employment checks before starting with us at Farmlands. These will include two references from your two most recent managers, a Ministry of Justice Check, proof of your right to work in New Zealand, a driver’s licence check and an ACC background check. For certain roles a drug and alcohol test, credit check and AML check may be required.