---
title: 'Customer Director - Wellington at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/customer-director-wellington-new-zealand-trade-and-enterprise-wellington-1d13mee1wr4k'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-24'
---

# Customer Director - Wellington at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

- **Company:** New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
- **Location:** Wellington, New Zealand
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-10-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-24
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/newzealandtradeandenterprise/d1ea1e50-4815-4173-a098-c89bc1bb1320

## Job description

This role is based in Wellington.

Who we are: Te Taurapa Tūhono | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is New Zealand’s international business development agency.  We exist for one purpose – to grow businesses internationally, bigger, better, faster for the good of New Zealand.  We use our extensive knowledge and global networks to help Kiwi businesses turn their global ambitions into reality. In the Export Customers team, we have a fantastic leadership opportunity to power up our offering, delivering greater impact to export businesses across New Zealand.

What you’ll be doing: You will inspire, coach, guide and grow your team of Customer Managers based in Wellington, New Plymouth and Dunedin.  You’ll motivate your team to set ambitious goals aligned with our strategy and provide clarity on the vital role they play in delivering exceptional growth for customers across a range of sectors, and deliver innovative solutions that drive measurable business growth. You will play a key role in ensuring our global teams work together to provide a seamless personal and digital experience focused on growth for every customer, every time. You will be skilled at nurturing and growing a high performing team, with a keen focus on development and operational excellence.  You will influence NZTE strategy, culture and priorities through your strong understanding of kiwi export businesses, and the empathy and ambition you carry for their journey.  A champion of innovation, you will be deeply connected from the start up eco-system through to established business networks.  You will capitalise on your networking ability and contacts to fly the flag for Kiwi businesses within your own portfolio and wider sector networks.

What you’ll need to be successful: You’re already a leader who inspires people, in your team and in your wider circles.  Leading high performing and high functioning teams is something you’re passionate about.  You are well connected and love finding ways to collaborate with others, both within your own organisation and externally to get the best results. You encourage open communication, feedback, and accountability. You are someone who leans into challenges and difficult conversations to ensure your team is achieving success and learning from their mistakes. You'll be a culture driver who leads by example and embeds integrity, collaboration, and innovation into everything you do. You create a respectful environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and people feel empowered to contribute, promoting continuous learning and experimentation.  You encourage open communication, feedback, and accountability to strengthen team cohesion. Proven experience in driving innovation and delivering growth within commercial environments, along with strong sector knowledge and connections, is essential. Strong commercial acumen and a track record of navigating international markets and developing and executing export strategies are key. Relationships are central to this role, so a well-established, commercially relevant network throughout New Zealand and internationally is highly valuable. You’ll love this role because of your experience, passion for our purpose, and ambition for New Zealand exporters.  The work you do will directly contribute to the international growth success of our customers, and you will have scope to work at pace and take an adventurous innovative approach, leading your team to deliver outstanding results!

Why you’ll love working here: NZTE is a truly global organisation, giving you a wonderful experience of working with different cultures around the world as part of our everyday. We know that life is not all about work and flexible working at NZTE is standard practise. We will give you the right technology to allow you to work anywhere and balance your time. On top of this, we also offer 5 weeks annual leave so you can have that extra time in the year to enjoy what you love doing. This role is banded NZ Level 19.

What's next: For more information about the role, please review the PD here: Customer_Director PD.  If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply online with yourCV and cover letter by Friday 6 November telling us why this role is the perfect fit for you. 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 team.

## 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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