New Ventures Lead

Agnition Ventures; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Performance bonus

Job summary

Agnition is seeking an entrepreneurial New Ventures Lead to identify promising technologies and partnerships, assess their potential and lead the strongest opportunities toward commercialisation.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will actively seek out emerging innovations from New Zealand and around the world, explore their potential in agriculture, and validate demand with market teams, scientists and farmers. This is a hands‑on, commercially focused role aimed at real impact.

Qualifications

• At least five years’ experience across innovation, commercialisation, strategy consulting, product development or venture-building.
• Ability to connect potential with commercial reality and build credible business propositions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement with scientists, founders and farmers.

Responsibilities

• Identify emerging technologies and partnership opportunities from NZ and overseas.
• Validate problem definition and customer demand; build robust business and investment cases.
• Lead opportunities through validation to commercialisation with cross‑functional teams.
• Support portfolio companies to strengthen commercial potential and go‑to‑market plans.

Skills

Innovation

Commercialisation

Venture-building

Strategy consulting

Business modelling

Job description

New Ventures Lead – Shape future farming

• Find the opportunities others haven’t seen
• Turn smart ideas into commercial ventures
• Help shape the future of New Zealand agriculture

Some people see an interesting idea. You see what it could become.

Agnition is looking for an entrepreneurial and commercially astute New Ventures Lead to uncover promising technologies and partnerships, assess their potential and lead the strongest opportunities towards commercialisation.

Naturally curious, action-oriented and energised by possibility, you will bring the commercial discipline to determine which ideas can genuinely deliver. Sound like you?

About Agnition

Agnition is the commercial innovation and venture investment arm of Ravensdown, one of New Zealand’s leading farmer-owned co-operatives. It finds, builds and invests in high‑potential opportunities that address real‑world challenges across agriculture.

Backed by Ravensdown’s scientific capability, industry expertise, extensive farmer network and commercial reach, Agnition can test promising technologies in real farming environments and accelerate their path to market.

Agnition’s focus is clear: practical innovation that strengthens productivity, sustainability and long‑term value for New Zealand’s farmers and growers.

About the opportunity | Hunt. Test. Build.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will actively seek out emerging technologies, innovations and partnership opportunities from New Zealand and around the world, exploring their potential within New Zealand agriculture – particularly across soil health and nutrient management.

This is not a role where opportunities simply arrive on your desk. You will get into the market, build relationships and follow promising leads. You will validate the problem, test customer demand, assess commercial potential and build robust business and investment cases.

Working with scientists, founders, farmers and commercial partners, you will help move the strongest opportunities through validation and towards commercialisation. You will also support Agnition’s portfolio companies to strengthen their commercial potential and go‑to‑market approach. Interested?

About you | Entrepreneurial energy. Commercial discipline.

You are an opportunity hunter who can spot potential, challenge assumptions and turn promising ideas into credible commercial propositions. You understand that a great idea only becomes a great venture when it solves a genuine customer problem and supports a viable business model.

To be successful, you will bring at least five years’ experience across innovation, commercialisation, strategy consulting, product development, venture‑building or a similarly commercial environment. Your background may be in engineering, science, technology or business; what matters is your ability to connect potential with commercial reality.

Confident researching markets, developing financial and business models and engaging with diverse stakeholders, you will combine energy and resourcefulness with sound judgement and commercial rigour. An understanding of agriculture would be valuable, but curiosity and a genuine appetite to immerse yourself in the sector are equally important.

Make your mark

This is a rare opportunity to help shape ventures that could materially influence the future of New Zealand agriculture. You will join an agile business with the capability, networks and ambition to take promising AgTech beyond the idea stage and into the field.

If you are ready to hunt down the next great opportunity – and build the case that brings it to life – we would love to hear from you.

Applications close: Monday 28th September 2026