Project Director - Capital Projects

Fonterra; New Zealand; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fair pay and benefits

Health and well-being programs

Professional development

Career growth support

Flexible/hybrid working where possible

Employee recognition

Job summary

Fonterra is seeking a Senior Project Director to lead large, complex capital projects within the Ingredients and Foodservice portfolio. You will shape investment strategy and influence enterprise decisions while driving delivery excellence at scale.

You will oversee teams, coordinate across functions, and ensure projects deliver meaningful, sustainable business outcomes with strong governance and risk management.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of multiple major capital projects or programmes in complex industrial environments (typically 100M+).
• Strong commercial acumen, including contract strategy, procurement and value optimisation.
• Experience in the Food & Dairy environment.
• Demonstrated experience shaping investment decisions and governance.
• Experience with NZ3910/16 and/or FIDIC contracts in complex delivery environments.
• A track record of building and leading high-performing teams and developing senior project leaders.
• Deep understanding of project governance, risk management and delivery frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end delivery of multiple large-scale ingredients and foodservice capital projects.
• Shape investment strategy and optimise capital deployment.
• Lead integration across projects, managing interdependencies and scale.
• Set governance, commercial discipline and risk management standards across projects.
• Influence major investment decisions including business cases and governance forums.
• Drive delivery excellence and lift overall project outcomes.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Markets, Strategy, Operations and Engineering.

Skills

Capital projects leadership

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Contracting (NZ3910/FIDIC)

Food & Dairy industry experience

Team leadership

Governance & risk management

Job description

Position 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 us | He kupu mō mātou

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

• Delivering large-scale, complex capital investments that underpin Fonterra's Strategic Asset Roadmap.
• Operating across multiple sites, stakeholders and delivery partners at significant scale and complexity.
• Focused on disciplined delivery, strong governance and creating long term enterprise value.

This is a team working on the work that matters - combining technical depth, commercial discipline and real impact.

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 have a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role overseeing large, complex capital projects within our Ingredients and Foodservice portfolio. You will shape investment strategy, influence enterprise-wide decisions and drive delivery excellence at scale. As Project Director, you will operate at the intersection of strategy and execution - leading high performing teams, navigating complexity and ensuring projects deliver meaningful, sustainable business outcomes.

You will:

• Own the end-to-end delivery of multiple large-scale ingredients and foodservice capital projects, ensuring outcomes are achieved.
• Shape and influence investment strategy, optimising how capital is deployed.
• Lead integration across projects, managing interdependencies and ensuring delivery at scale.
• Set the standard for governance, commercial discipline and risk management across your projects.
• Influence and support major investment decisions, including business cases and executive governance forums.
• Drive delivery excellence - embedding consistency, improving performance, ensuring benefits and outcomes are optimised throughout the project lifecycle and lifting overall project outcomes.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Markets, Strategy, Operations, Asset Management, Engineering and executive leadership.

This is a role with genuine enterprise impact and is suited to a leader who can operate comfortably at both strategic and delivery levels.

The preferred location for this role is Auckland, Hamilton or Christchurch. Given the national scope of this Portfolio, regular travel will be required, with an expectation of being on-site as needed to support project delivery.

About You | Mōu

You are a seasoned Capital Projects leader who has operated at scale and understands what it takes to consistently deliver in complex, high stakes environments.

You combine strong commercial and strategic thinking with practical delivery leadership and bring the credibility to influence at senior levels.

What you will bring:

• Proven leadership of multiple major capital projects or programmes in complex industrial environments (typically 100M+)
• Strong commercial acumen, including contract strategy, procurement and value optimisation.
• Experience working within the Food & Dairy environment.
• Demonstrated experience shaping investment decisions, including business case development and governance.
• Experience with NZ3910/16 and/or FIDIC contracts in complex delivery environments.
• A track record of building and leading high-performing teams and developing senior project leaders.
• A deep understanding of project governance, risk management and delivery frameworks.

You will be a pragmatic, confident senior leader who brings clarity in complexity, holds a high bar for performance and is motivated by delivering outcomes that create long-term value.

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 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 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 Sunday 04 October 2026

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