Business Manager Foodstuffs SI

NZ01 Essity Australasia Limited; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Wellbeing medical insurance

Income protection & life insurance

Onsite parking

Job summary

NZ01 Essity Australasia Limited in Christchurch is seeking a commercially savvy Business Manager to lead our strategic partnership with Foodstuffs South Island. You will deliver sales, market share, and profitability targets while guiding a high-performing New Zealand Consumer Sales team.

Based in Christchurch (travel to Auckland possible), you will develop joint business plans, oversee pricing and promotions, and translate shopper insights into action across cross-functional partners.

Qualifications

• Experience in FMCG and key account management.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic business plans.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical skills.
• Advanced negotiation and influencing capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic customer plans to drive sales, share and profitability.
• Lead Essity's relationship with Foodstuffs South Island with joint business planning.
• Create customer strategies covering pricing, promotions, placement, product range, and merchandising.
• Monitor performance via forecasting, scorecards and financial analysis.
• Collaborate with Demand Planning, Finance and other teams to enable growth.
• Provide customer and market insights to support strategic decisions.
• Lead, coach and develop team members.

Skills

FMCG sales

Key account management

Negotiation

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Education

Business/Marketing degree

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

NZ01 Essity Australasia Limited – Christchurch, South Island

Join Essity, a global leader in health and hygiene, and help shape the future of some of New Zealand's most trusted consumer brands. We're looking for a commercially savvy and people-focused Business Manager to lead our strategic partnership with Foodstuffs South Island. This is an exciting opportunity to influence business growth, strengthen customer relationships, and drive outstanding outcomes across a dynamic FMCG environment.

About the Role:
As Business Manager Foodstuffs South Island, you will lead Essity's commercial relationship with one of New Zealand's key grocery customers. Responsible for delivering sales, market share and profitability objectives, you'll develop and execute strategic customer plans while partnering closely with internal teams across Category, Marketing, Sales Operations, Demand Planning and Finance. You'll also play an important leadership role within our New Zealand Consumer Sales team, contributing to broader business strategy and developing a high-performing team.

While the role is currently based in Christchurch, we are also open to the successful candidate being based out of our Newmarket, Auckland office (with travel).

What You Will Do:

• Develop and execute strategic customer plans that drive sales growth, market share and profitability.
• Lead Essity's relationship with Foodstuffs South Island, including joint business planning, customer reviews and trading terms negotiations.
• Build and implement customer strategies across pricing, promotions, placement, product range and merchandising initiatives.
• Monitor business performance through forecasting, scorecards and financial analysis, identifying opportunities and implementing actions to achieve targets.
• Partner with Demand Planning and Finance teams to ensure accurate forecasting and effective commercial planning.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver customer growth plans and execution excellence.
• Provide customer and market insights that support strategic decision-making across the business.
• Lead, coach and develop team members, fostering capability growth, engagement and future succession.

Who You Are:

You are an experienced FMCG sales professional who thrives on building strong partnerships, leading negotiations and delivering commercial results. You bring a strategic mindset, strong leadership capability and a collaborative approach that enables you to influence across all levels of an organisation.

You'll also bring:

• Significant experience in FMCG, including key account management responsibilities.
• Experience working with major grocery customers and complex customer networks.
• Proven success developing and executing strategic business plans.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability.
• Advanced negotiation, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing team members.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A tertiary qualification in Business, Marketing or a related discipline is advantageous.

What We Can Offer You:
Our purpose, Breaking Barriers to Well-Being, provides meaning to everything we do. Join us to improve well-being for people and drive positive change for society and the environment. At Essity, you'll feel valued, empowered to grow, and challenged to achieve business results in a collaborative and open atmosphere.

We also offer:

• A competitive salary package, because we want you to be rewarded for what you do best
• Fully funded Wellbeing One Southern Cross medical insurance, with free annual health checks and doctor's appointments
• Free income protection, permanent disability, and life insurance
• Free Annual Flu Vaccinations, Annual Wellness day and free onsite parking
• Opportunities for career growth and development within a global organisation.
• Access to learning, leadership and professional development programs.
• The opportunity to work with trusted brands that make a meaningful difference in people's lives every day.

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