Head of Retail Operations

Fonterra; Hamilton; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fair pay

Health & wellbeing programs

Professional development

Career growth support

Hybrid working where possible

Employee recognition

Community involvement

Job summary

Fonterra is seeking a Head of Retail Operations to lead the Farm Source network nationwide, embedding standards and delivering operational excellence. You will steer category strategy, pricing, and supply chain planning while guiding large, dispersed teams through a major transformation.

Collaboration with regional teams and farmers is key to sustaining growth and value across the Co-op. The role demands proven retail leadership, strategic thinking and strong execution, balanced with a

Qualifications

• Extensive senior retail operations leadership experience within a large multi-site retail network.
• Strong track record of leading retail transformation, operational improvement and change initiatives.
• Deep understanding of retail operations, category management, pricing and merchandising.
• Proven ability to set standards and drive execution across dispersed teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with focus on customer experience, growth and market share.

Responsibilities

• Lead the optimisation and operational excellence of the Farm Source retail network nationwide.
• Set and embed retail operating standards, processes and best practices.
• Lead category strategy, pricing, supply chain planning and distribution.
• Drive large-scale transformation across operations, systems and customer experience.
• Partner with regional teams to lift performance and share best practices.
• Lead store development, network optimisation and prioritised improvements.
• Enhance the farmer experience while delivering strong commercial outcomes for the Co-op.
• Build alignment across multiple stakeholder groups including retail teams and farmers.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team focused on sustainable operational excellence.
• Contribute as a member of the Strategic Farmer Offering leadership team.

Skills

Senior leadership

Retail transformation

Operational excellence

Category management

Pricing

Merchandising

Supply chain understanding

Stakeholder management

Change leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Imagine Tomorrow with Us | Ata whakaarohia tō āpōpō

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.

About the Opportunity | Mō tēnei tūranga

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of New Zealand's largest and most complex retail networks.

As Head of Retail Operations, you'll be responsible for the optimisation consistency and future direction of the Farm Source retail network, leading a national operation that plays a critical role in delivering value to Fonterra farmers and strengthening our co-operative.

Reporting to the GM Strategic Farmer Offering, you'll lead a diverse team across retail operations, category strategy, supply chain planning, store development and business planning. Beyond driving operational excellence across the network, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of Farm Source as we embark on a significant transformation journey across retail operations, network optimisation, systems, supply chain and customer experience.

This is a role for a proven retail leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational execution, bringing the credibility, commercial acumen and leadership capability required to drive performance across a large-scale multisite network.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the optimisation and operational excellence of the Farm Source retail network nationwide
• Set and embed retail operating standards, processes and best practices that drive consistency and performance
• Lead category strategy, pricing, supply chain planning and distribution to ensure a competitive and relevant retail offer
• Drive large-scale transformation and continuous improvement initiatives across operations, systems and customer experience
• Partner with regional teams to lift performance, share best practice and build capability across the network
• Lead store development, network optimisation and operational improvement priorities
• Enhance the farmer experience while delivering strong commercial outcomes for the Co-op
• Build alignment across multiple stakeholder groups including retail teams, senior leaders and farmers
• Lead and develop a high-performing team focused on delivering sustainable operational excellence
• Contribute as a key member of the Strategic Farmer Offering leadership team, helping shape strategy and enterprise-wide outcomes

About You | Mōu

You're a retailer at heart.

You understand what it takes to lead large, geographically dispersed retail operations and have successfully delivered performance improvements across complex multi-site environments. You're equally comfortable discussing category strategy, supply chain optimisation and commercial performance as you are coaching leaders, influencing stakeholders and leading change.

Most importantly, you'll bring deep retail credibility and the ability to guide an organisation through a significant transformation journey while balancing customer needs, operational performance and long-term strategic outcomes.

To be successful, you'll bring:

• Extensive senior retail operations leadership experience within a large multi-site retail network
• A strong track record of leading retail transformation, operational improvement and change initiatives
• Deep understanding of retail operations, category management, pricing, merchandising and supply chain
• Proven experience setting standards and driving consistent execution across geographically dispersed teams
• Strong commercial acumen with a focus on customer experience, growth and market share
• Experience leading large and diverse operational teams through periods of change and complexity
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence across multiple groups
• Strong planning, prioritisation and execution capability
• The ability to balance commercial outcomes with a customer-first mindset
• Curiosity, adaptability and the ability to quickly understand a unique customer environment and operating model

Agribusiness experience would be advantageous, however we are equally interested in hearing from exceptional retail leaders who can bring fresh thinking, transformation expertise and operational excellence from other sectors.

Our Values | Ngā Aura

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 [1] Values Quiz

Our Commitment to You | Tā mātou oati

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)
• Professional development opportunities
• Career growth support
• Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
• Employee recognition
• Support for community involvement and cultural connection

To learn more, visit [2] Fonterra Careers

A Career of Opportunities | Ngā Mahi

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.

Join Us | Tātou Tātou

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

You, me, us together, Tātou, tātou.

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 28th Oct

References

Visible links

1. https://values.fonterra.com/?utm_source=internal+job+ad&utm_medium=job+ad&utm_campaign=imagine+tomorrow&utm_term=&utm_content=values

2. https://www.fonterra.com/nz/en/careers.html?utm_campaign=talentacquisition&utm_medium=jobad&utm_source=fonterracareers