Vendor and Product Manager

Hynds Limited; Maungakiekie-Tāmaki; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water management solutions provider in Auckland seeks a technically minded Vendor and Product Manager. This role involves managing supplier relationships and the product portfolio, with responsibilities ranging from vendor selection to overseeing the product lifecycle. Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years relevant experience and strong commercial acumen. This is a national role with travel required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant industry experience required.
• Comfortable working with major industry players and smaller vendors.
• Strong attitude and willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Maintain supplier and vendor relationships.
• Identify and select vendors aligning with Supply Chain requirements.
• Oversee product lifecycle from concept through maturity to end of life.
• Achieve financial budgets and targets for products.

Skills

Technical knowledge of water infrastructure products

Commercial acumen

Negotiating contracts

Vendor management

Experience with international suppliers

Ability to travel as required

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification preferred

Job description

We’re seeking a technically minded, commercially driven Vendor and Product Manager, to take ownership of our supplier relationships and product portfolio.

In this pivotal role you will combine your product and technical knowledge on water infrastructure with strong commercial acumen to shape the future of our sourcing, product strategy and market offering.

You’ll be part of a motivated team of subject matter experts, looking after a defined set of products and ensuring best‑in‑class practices across both vendor engagement and portfolio management.

If you have experience with water infrastructure products, we’d love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

• Maintaining supplier and vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, controlling costs, reducing vendor‑related risks and ensuring service delivery.
• Responsible for identifying and selecting vendors that meet the company’s stringent Supply Chain requirements.
• Ensuring that a secure trading agreement is in place and maintained, and that risk is managed effectively while ensuring that we are meeting our obligations with regards to payment and reporting.
• Responsible for your assigned suite of product across its entire lifecycle, from its initial concept and design, through its introduction and growth phase, into maturity and eventual decline and end of life.
• Ensuring financial budgets and targets are achieved for all products, brands and agencies.
• Working with the Category Managers and the wider business on special product and project pricing that may be required and helping maintain front‑end and back‑margin expectations.

Key Attributes

• You will be comfortable working with major industry players, while also dedicating time and energy to streamline and optimise the long tail of smaller vendors.
• Highly proficient level of technical knowledge and expertise with the systems, products and applications associated with the industry.
• A good base understanding of the category markets, and how market sectors operate and how to grow the market to its potential.
• Experienced in technical products, have a history of success and an understanding of why the success has been achieved.
• Experienced in dealing with international suppliers, the development and successful rollout of product and marketing strategies.
• Flexibility to travel as required in support of the category. This is a national role and regular travel requiring overnight stays will be required.
• Our ideal candidate has at least 5 years of relevant industry experience. While a relevant tertiary qualification is preferred, it’s not essential. Just as important is your mindset; we value a strong attitude, a willingness to learn, and a desire to grow.

Who we are:

Founded in 1973, Hynds is New Zealand’s premier product supplier for the management of water and water‑based waste in the civil and rural infrastructure markets. Hynds remains proudly family‑owned and has built its reputation on customer service and innovation.

We are committed as a team to helping our customers succeed and believe in the Hynds Values to guide the way. Hynds is a place where people matter, where we do what’s right and where we connect with our customers.

Pre‑employment checks:

Hynds are committed to high levels of health and safety. Therefore, all candidates will be expected to pass a pre‑employment medical and alcohol & drug screen, along with satisfactorily passing a criminal history check. You will also need the legal right to work in NZ.