Capital Programme Leads – Auckland/Waikato

Fonterra Co-operative Group; Hamilton; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/hybrid working

Health and well-being programs

Employee recognition

Community involvement and cultural con

Job summary

Fonterra Co-operative Group in New Zealand invites expressions of interest for Programme Leads to join our Capital Projects portfolio. You will provide programme leadership across many projects, support Project Managers, and help governance, risk and operational readiness to deliver safe, reliable investments.

This collaborative role engages diverse stakeholders to drive improvements, embed best-practice management, and build capability across the portfolio while advancing our dairy industry

Qualifications

• Experience contributing to or leading multi-disciplinary projects or programmes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement across multiple levels of an organisation.
• Experience supporting business case development, investment assessment and programme governance.
• Strong risk management and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to translate complexity into practical actions.
• Collaborative leadership across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of multiple capital projects and programmes.
• Assist Project Managers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead programme reporting, analysis, and governance activities.
• Drive capability development in risk management, health and safety, and operational readiness.
• Lead portfolio-wide improvement initiatives and embed best-practice management.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships to enable collaboration and outcomes.

Skills

Programme leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Governance

Analytical thinking

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Engineering degree

Project management qualification

Job description

Job Name

General Information

Date Published

03-Sep-2026

Advertising Ends

27-Sep-2026

ID#

17040

Role Type

Permanent Full-Time

Workplace Type

Hybrid

Country

Location

Position Description

At Fonterra Te Mātāpuna, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves.

Whether you're early in your career or ready for your next step, Fonterra offers a unique opportunity to grow with a global dairy co-operative that values care, collaboration, and contribution.

Owned by New Zealand dairy farmers and supported by a dedicated team, we are all working together to create a better future. Imagine tomorrow with us, where your career can grow, and you can create positive change.

Capital Projects sits at the centre of Fonterra's capital investment delivery, operating across five distinct portfolios to shape and execute investments across our manufacturing network.

We are trusted partners to our Manufacturing and Supply Chain Operations teams, turning the Co-op's strategic, asset, operational and growth priorities into an executable plan of work that keeps our factories safe, reliable and ready for the future.

About the Opportunity |Mō tēnei tūranga

We're investing in the future of our operations through a significant portfolio of capital projects that support our Strategic Asset Roadmap and sustainability ambitions.

We are seeking expressions of interest for Programme Leads to join our Capital Projects team. In these roles you will play a pivotal role in helping deliver a diverse portfolio of investments that drive long-term value across our operations.

You will provide programme leadership across a large volume of projects, supporting Project Managers and/or Programme Managers to successfully navigate change, project governance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, operational readiness and project delivery.

This is a highly collaborative role where you'll lead key workstreams, champion continuous improvement initiatives and help build capability across the project portfolio. You will be working with diverse stakeholders across the business to ensure investments are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with Fonterra's project management standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the successful delivery of multiple capital projects and programmes.
• Supporting Project Managers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Leading programme reporting, analysis, supporting stakeholder engagement and governance activities.
• Driving capability development across areas including risk management, health and safety, operational readiness and commissioning.
• Leading portfolio-wide improvement initiatives and embedding best practice project management approaches.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders to enable collaboration and successful business outcomes.

This is an opportunity to contribute to some of Fonterra's most significant investment programmes while developing your programme leadership capability within a supportive and highly experienced team. You'll have the chance to influence meaningful outcomes, build strong relationships across the business and play a key role in delivering projects that support the future of New Zealand's dairy industry.

You will bring experience working on projects or programmes and enjoy operating in environments where collaboration, influence and continuous improvement are key.

You have a natural ability to connect people, navigate ambiguity and teams deliver successful outcomes.

To be successful in these roles you will ideally have:

• Experience contributing to or leading multi-disciplinary projects or programmes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to influence across multiple levels of an organisation.
• Experience supporting business case development, investment assessment and programme governance activities.
• Strong risk management and problem-solving capabilities.
• The ability to synthesise information, identify patterns and translate complexity into practical actions.
• A collaborative leadership style with experience working across cross-functional teams.
• A degree in engineering, technology, science, commerce or related discipline.
• A project management qualification would be advantageous but not essential.

At Fonterra, our values of Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts, are for everyone – no matter your background, identify or experience. These values guide us in delivering exceptional outcomes for our farmers, customers, communities, and each other. Discover how your values align with ours by taking our Values Quiz

We care for our people globally. Our comprehensive benefits support your well–being, development, and work–life balance:

• Fair and equitable pay
• Health and well–being programs (medical, mental health support)
• Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
• Employee recognition
• Support for community involvement and cultural connection

At Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.

Does this sound good to you? Come join our whānau - bring your whole self, and let's solve for better together.

Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion |He Wāhi mō te Katoa

Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions).

If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best. Tātou, tātou.

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 27 September 2026