Innovation Project Manager

About the Role

Join Silver Fern Farms as an Innovation Project Manager, spearheading a variety of projects that range from new product development, packaging innovation, sustainability efforts, operational improvements, to initiatives that foster commercial growth. Reporting to the Innovation Portfolio Manager, you will enhance project delivery capabilities and facilitate the execution of our innovation strategy by collaborating with internal teams and external partners to guide projects from initial concept through to practical implementation.

You will be instrumental in driving momentum, uniting stakeholders, eliminating obstacles, and maintaining steady progress with clear planning, structured governance, and disciplined execution. Your role balances commercial insight with actionable delivery, accelerating innovations to market and generating value for customers, farmers, and the company.

This is a permanent, on-site role based at our Dunedin Hub.

Candidate Profile

We seek a skilled project manager experienced in complex environments who excels at uniting teams and achieving objectives. Confident in handling multiple tasks, you can navigate uncertainty and build strong connections across organizational levels. You're passionate about transforming ideas into tangible results that create meaningful impact.

Our Innovation team culture emphasizes openness, constructive challenge, mutual support, and shared achievement. You'll be a capable project leader as well as a collaborative team member who fosters trust, imparts knowledge, and contributes to a high-performing environment.

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience managing projects within food manufacturing, FMCG, product development, innovation, or similarly intricate settings.
• Competence in project management fundamentals such as planning, governance, budgeting, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Capability to lead multidisciplinary projects and influence diverse stakeholders effectively.
• Familiarity with innovation frameworks, new product development processes, or stage-gate methodologies.
• Strong commercial acumen combined with analytical skills, creativity, and practical application.
• Tertiary qualifications in Food Technology, Food Science, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering, or related fields, or equivalent industry experience.

Why Work at Silver Fern Farms

At Silver Fern Farms, our mission is about "Creating Goodness from the Farms the World Needs," emphasizing a comprehensive perspective on goodness, including impacts on people, communities, animal welfare, and environmental care. We invest in our people and farmers, striving to create goodness in every product and interaction.

We provide benefits such as subsidized health and life insurance, opportunities for ongoing learning and development, and support for a healthy work-life balance through our flexible work policies.

Application Details

Applications are currently being accepted and reviewed upon receipt. This role will be open until Tuesday, 1 September. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, as we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace with equal opportunities.