---
title: 'Commercial Business Advisor – Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/commercial-business-advisor-food-beverage-and-consumer-goods-new-zealand-trade-8ybenhg546qb'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Commercial Business Advisor – Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

- **Company:** New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
- **Location:** London, United Kingdom
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-07-13
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/newzealandtradeandenterprise/54fe8611-d5e9-405c-9c89-1881d2c670a8

## Job description

Flexible hybrid working environment, 3 days office based Progressive wellbeing culture, where diversity & learning is valued to support you to be your best self Partner with innovative Kiwi entrepreneurs who are making their mark in the Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods sectors

Are you looking for exciting and varied work? Use your know-how and know-who to help New Zealand businesses grow bigger, better, faster in the United Kingdom.

## The role is based in central London

Who we are: NZTE is New Zealand's international business development agency, but we are not like your traditional trade agency. Our people are highly commercially savvy, connected people who know their sector intimately. We get to work with some of New Zealand's most exciting companies, aiming to grow them by getting alongside them throughout their export journey.

What you will be doing: Based in our central London office, we're looking for a stakeholder-savvy commercial adviser to provide business planning and strategic insight to a diverse portfolio of exciting exporters across the Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods sectors, with a primary focus on Food & Beverage. In this role, you will proactively partner with New Zealand companies to develop and execute their go-to-market plans across UK retail, wholesale, food service and on-premise channels. This will include coaching leadership teams to identify the right product niche and market approach, uncovering opportunities to establish the best route-to-market strategy, and providing expert advice to maximise their market impact. Well versed in the UK Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods landscape (and ideally Ireland) you will use your commercial know-how to evaluate exporters' strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, and support them with market entry and growth strategies. Your role is all about working with leadership teams to strategise and execute exciting new channels to market, and to grow a range of verticals that are landing and expanding in market. You'll also play a meaningful part in delivering a strategic Food & Beverage priority linked to the NZ–UK Free Trade Agreement. You will also work closely with your peers, internal support teams and key stakeholders on initiatives that drive customer growth. Your consultative approach, ability to activate your networks and business credibility will be highly valued, as will your willingness to capture all interactions in our customer relationship management system and identify future market trends. Your guidance will enable the delivery of high-impact in-market projects, supporting our customers' growth objectives and providing insights that reduce barriers to entry for New Zealand exporters.

What you will need to be successful: With commercial smarts and the know-how to manage a portfolio of companies, you'll play a key role in evaluating their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities and supporting them with market entry and growth strategies. You'll bring: Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to work with large and complex trading organisations as well as smaller, high-growth exporters. A solid understanding of market entry and route-to-market strategies across UK retail, wholesale, food service and on-premise channels. Sector knowledge across Food & Beverage (and ideally Consumer Goods), including an awareness of the regulatory context relevant to Food & Beverage customers. Keen business acumen, experience working alongside CEOs, and a willingness to 'roll your sleeves up'. Superior communication, business consulting and relationship management skills, with the ability to build rapport quickly. Knowledge of the UK commercial landscape and a strong sense for doing business in the United Kingdom. An enthusiastic, 'can-do' attitude, proactive nature, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in virtual teams across sectors. Nice to have (advantageous, not essential): Existing buyer connections within UK grocery, food service or wholesale networks. Marketing or consumer-market understanding, and knowledge of brand positioning. Experience across both the UK and Irish markets.

Please note: this role is known internally as a Business Development Manager.

Why you will love working here: We provide an inclusive and stimulating organisational culture where you can bring your whole self to work. You will be supported in your professional growth and be provided with learning and development opportunities to develop your expertise and knowledge with a dedicated L&D budget. NZTE offers flexible working arrangements, a fun and nurturing environment with a unique opportunity to develop and access world-class business networks and work with a talented, diverse international team.

What's next: If this role sounds perfect for you and you believe you have what it takes to really make it your own, then we want to hear from you! Please view the position description here, for more details and apply now with your resume and cover letter. You must have the right to work in the United Kingdom to be eligible for this role. This vacancy closes on 11:59pm GMT, Wednesday 23 September.

We believe New Zealand is good for the World. 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 Talent Acquisition Partner.

## About New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the New Zealand Government's international business development agency, helping Kiwi businesses grow internationally through independent export advice, global networks, and tailored solutions.
- **Entity Type**: Government Agency (New Zealand Crown entity) — not publicly traded
- **Headquarters**: Auckland, New Zealand
- **Founded**: 2003 (established by the New Zealand Government; not founder-led)
- **Founders**: N/A — established as a government agency (formed from the merger of Trade New Zealand and Industry New Zealand)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: International trade and economic development; export advisory services
- **Target customers**: B2B — New Zealand businesses at various stages of international growth, ranging from first-time exporters to established global players; also works with the New Zealand Government and international partners
- **Mission / Purpose**: To help New Zealand businesses grow internationally, contributing to New Zealand's economic success — trade adds more than NZ$100 billion in export value to the New Zealand economy annually and supports 1 in 4 Kiwi jobs.

## Products & Services
- **Export Advice & Capability Building**: Free independent advice, workshops, and capability programmes for New Zealand businesses seeking to enter or expand in international markets.
- **Global Networks & Connections**: In-market teams across nearly 50 locations worldwide who connect businesses with local partners, distributors, customers, and mentors.
- **Market Intelligence & Insights**: Expert research, market reports, and sector insights to guide export strategy and decision-making.
- **Trade Missions & Events**: Facilitated in-market visits, trade delegations, and virtual/in-person events that put New Zealand businesses in front of buyers.
- **Government-to-Government Facilitation**: As a government agency, it opens doors through international diplomatic and trade relationships.
- **Māori Business Growth Support**: Dedicated Te Pora Māori network and Māori capability resources to grow Māori exporters.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not applicable (government agency)
- **Key Metric**: Approximately 693 employees; annual revenue estimated at NZ$100M–NZ$500M (LinkedIn estimate, unverified); funded through New Zealand Government appropriation
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: New Zealand Government; Champions for Change; Southern Cross Healthcare (employee benefits); operates 46-country footprint including New Zealand, United States, Australia, China, and India
- **Growth Signals**: Helps over 5,000 New Zealand businesses annually; operates in 37+ locations, 24 time zones, and 40+ languages; distributed workforce across 46 countries; ongoing expansion of in-market teams and digital export tools

## Competitive Advantages
- **Government Mandate & Credibility**: Authority and trust that come with being the official NZ Government trade and development agency.
- **Global Reach on the Ground**: Teams embedded in nearly 50 locations worldwide, offering on-the-ground market knowledge that competitors can't easily replicate.
- **Data & Relationship Depth**: Decades of accumulated export success/lessons and connections across 100+ markets.
- **Māori Cultural Framework**: Deep commitment to tikanga and te reo Māori, with dedicated full-time Māori Capability Lead and Te Pora Māori network — a unique differentiator in the global trade space.
- **No-Cost Services to Customers**: Independent export advice is free to New Zealand businesses, creating broad reach and a mission-driven brand.

## Strategic Focus
- Growing New Zealand's international export earnings through high-value, high-growth sectors (including food & beverage, agritech, manufacturing, digital/tech services).
- Accelerating Māori economic development and export capability.
- Driving sustainability: carbon reduction targets, waste audits across major offices, and a full-time Sustainability Lead.
- Strengthening digital tools and self-serve export resources (e.g., MyNZTE).
- Connecting businesses across 24 time zones as a "One Global Team" to support more than 100 markets.

## Why Work Here
- **Flexible by default**: Remote work, flexible hours, flexible return-to-work options after parental leave — arrangements that work for the individual, team, and NZTE.
- **Leave & wellbeing**: For NZ-based employees: 5 weeks' annual leave, 10 days' sick/wellbeing leave (rollover up to 20 days), 10 days' domestic violence leave, and free annual flu vaccinations. Access to a dedicated mental health hub and Employee Assistance Programme with up to 6 confidential counselling sessions per year (extends to immediate whānau).
- **Development culture**: Extensive in-house training (leadership, coaching, business acumen), a highly rated internal coaching programme, support for external study fees, and international/local secondment opportunities.
- **Inclusive workplace**: Winner of the Leadership Award (Medium-Large Organisation) at the Diversity Awards NZ; first in the Champions for Change group to reach gender balance at all levels of leadership (40% women / 40% men / 20% any gender).
- **Cultural grounding**: Kia Kaha — an overnight marae-based induction for new joiners — and a strong commitment to tikanga and te reo Māori.
- **Practical perks**: KiwiSaver employer matching (3% per Life at NZTE page; "up to 3.5%" per the Careers page — conflicting reports, both cited below), Microsoft Surface laptop, iPhone where needed, corporate gym discounts, and Southern Cross medical discount scheme.
- **Global mobility**: Nearly 50 locations mean real international career opportunities; annual 'Pounamu Awards' celebrate employee achievements.
- **Mission-driven work**: Directly contributes to New Zealand's economic prosperity, with a strong sustainability agenda and an active employee community leading green initiatives.

## Sources
1. [nzte.govt.nz — Careers at NZTE](https://www.nzte.govt.nz/page/careers-at-nzte)
2. [nzte.govt.nz — About NZTE](https://www.nzte.govt.nz/page/about-nzte)
3. [linkedin.com — New Zealand Trade and Enterprise](https://linkedin.com/company/new-zealand-trade-and-enterprise)
4. [nzte.govt.nz — Life at NZTE](https://www.nzte.govt.nz/page/life-at-nzte)
5. [jobs.lever.co — NZTE Jobs](https://jobs.lever.co/newzealandtradeandenterprise)

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