Co-op Business Partner

Fonterra Co-operative Group; Taupo; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fair pay

Health and well-being programs

Flexible/hybrid work

Employee recognition

Community involvement

Job summary

Fonterra Co-operative Group in Rotorua seeks a Co-op Business Partner to serve a portfolio of shareholder farmers. This relationship-driven role focuses on understanding farm businesses, identifying opportunities, and translating strategy into practical support.

You will spend significant time on-farm across the Rotorua region, building trust, guiding performance, sustainability, succession planning, and future growth, with coaching and leadership support from the Co-operative.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing customer, stakeholder, or key account relationships.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to understand business performance drivers.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of shareholder farmers.
• Understand farmers' business objectives and identify opportunities to support their ongoing success.
• Develop engagement plans that strengthen loyalty, retention, and long-term milk supply.
• Translating Fonterra's strategy into meaningful conversations and actions for farmers.

Job 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.

At Fonterra, our farmers are at the heart of everything we do. As a farmer-owned Co-operative, strong relationships are critical to our future. We’re committed to helping our farmers succeed, creating long-term value for our shareholders, and ensuring the sustainability of New Zealand dairy for generations to come.

About the Opportunity | Mō tēnei tūranga

We have an exciting opportunity for a Co-op Business Partner to join our team, based in Rotorua.

This is a highly visible and relationship-driven role where you'll act as the trusted connection between Fonterra and a portfolio of shareholder farmers. You'll build meaningful partnerships, understand each farm business, and help farmers navigate opportunities and challenges while strengthening their connection to the Co-operative.

This is not a transactional sales role. Success comes from building trust, understanding farmers' long-term goals, and having quality conversations that create value for both the farmer and the Co-operative.

Working across the Rotorua region, you'll spend much of your time on-farm, developing deep relationships and partnering with farmers on topics such as business performance, succession planning, sustainability, growth opportunities, and the future of their farming operation.

Whether you're an experienced agribusiness professional or someone with proven experience in a key account or relationship management role looking for your next challenge, this role offers an exciting opportunity to learn, grow, and develop. If you're comfortable having commercial conversations, quick to translate strategy in to uncover needs, and passionate about building trusted partnerships, you'll be supported with coaching, development opportunities, and exposure to experienced leaders across the Co-operative.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing and growing trusted relationships with a portfolio of shareholder farmers.
• Understanding farmers' business objectives and identifying opportunities to support their ongoing success.
• Developing engagement plans that strengthen loyalty, retention, and long-term milk supply.
• Translating Fonterra's strategy, services, and value proposition into meaningful conversations for farmers.
• Building relationships with current and future farming leaders, including sharemilkers and emerging farm owners.
• Connecting farmers with the right Fonterra specialists and support teams to meet their needs.
• Representing Fonterra within local farming communities and industry networks.

This role offers a high level of autonomy and flexibility, supported by a strong team and access to leaders across the Co-operative. You'll be empowered to manage your own schedule while being responsive to the needs of your farmers and region.

You're a relationship builder at heart who enjoys creating value through trust, influence, and genuine partnerships.

You thrive in a fast-paced environment, are resilient when faced with challenging conversations, and are comfortable navigating multiple priorities at once. You genuinely enjoy working with people and are passionate about supporting New Zealand's rural sector.

You may come from backgrounds such as:

• Rural banking
• Agribusiness
• Dairy industry organisations
• Account management or key account management
• Rural advisory services
• Agricultural sales or customer relationship management

To be successful in this role, you'll bring:

• Proven experience managing customer, stakeholder, or key account relationships.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to understand business performance drivers.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• A resilient and adaptable approach.
• The ability to work independently and effectively manage your own territory.
• An interest in agriculture and a desire to support farming businesses to succeed.

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).

Even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply; we value your potential and growth.

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 Tuesday 20th October 2026.