Project Manager

About the opportunity

Fonterra Te Mātāpuna is seeking an experienced Project Manager to join its Portfolio Leadership Team. The position is responsible for leading the delivery of multiple large and complex capital projects that support the organisation’s strategic priorities.

The role blends strategic oversight with practical delivery management, close collaboration with stakeholders, and a commitment to strengthening project capability across the portfolio.

This is a role that involves regular travel. Time away from home should be expected as a normal part of the job, and the right candidate will need to be comfortable with frequent overnight stays and changing travel patterns. Christchurch is the preferred base, although nationwide travel will be required.

Key responsibilities

• Provide both strategic direction and day-to-day leadership across assigned capital projects.
• Build and guide project and delivery teams, including both permanent staff and contingent support.
• Make sure projects are delivered safely and meet agreed targets for scope, time, cost, and quality.
• Manage governance, risk, and performance reporting throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Work closely with construction partners and contractors to deliver results while managing expectations effectively.
• Lift the overall capability, efficiency, and consistency of project management within the team.
• Ensure delivery aligns with Group Project Management Standards and that all internal and external assurance requirements are completed.

About you

You are an accomplished leader with substantial experience delivering major capital projects in complex settings. You demonstrate strong judgement, commercial awareness, and the ability to motivate high-performing teams.

To succeed in this role, you should bring hands-on experience delivering large-scale capital projects, a solid understanding of construction and delivery contract structures, and the ability to collaborate with construction firms while keeping performance and commercial expectations clear. You should also be comfortable managing several projects at once across different stages of delivery and have strong people leadership skills, including mentoring and developing project teams.

Requirements

• Proven experience delivering and managing large-scale major capital projects.
• Strong understanding of construction and delivery contract formats.
• Experience partnering with construction companies while maintaining clear commercial and performance expectations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently across different delivery phases.
• Strong leadership skills with experience mentoring and developing project teams.
• A tertiary engineering degree, or an equivalent qualification.
• A recognised project management certification such as PMI, PRINCE2, IMPA, or a similar credential.

Benefits and culture

• Fair and equitable compensation.
• Health and wellbeing support, including medical and mental health assistance.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Support for career progression.
• Flexibility that supports work-life balance, where possible.
• Employee recognition initiatives.
• Support for community involvement and cultural connection.

Values and inclusion

Fonterra’s values of Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts guide how the team works and supports outcomes for farmers, customers, communities, and colleagues. The organisation is committed to inclusion and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, including different ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, and religions.

Applicants are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every requirement, as potential and growth are valued. If accessibility support or adjustments are needed during the recruitment process, candidates can contact the recruiter for assistance.

Application note

Applications close at midnight on 2 July.