Strategic Supplier Relationship Manager

Role Overview

This newly established position offers a unique chance to innovate how the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) manages and enhances value from its strategic supplier connections. Collaborating with a diverse set of stakeholders, the role involves linking people, insights, and commercial prospects, engaging from senior leadership to contract handlers and supplier representatives. The ideal candidate should bring strong relationship-building skills and commercial understanding to balance organizational goals with supplier capabilities and restrictions.

Key Duties

• Create and implement frameworks to improve supplier partnerships.
• Provide contract managers with valuable commercial perspectives.
• Elevate team capabilities and disseminate best practices.
• Balance day-to-day requirements with long-term strategic goals.
• Promote favorable results through collaborative efforts.

Candidate Profile

The successful person is an adept relationship builder with deep commercial insight, skilled at uniting multiple groups to drive shared goals. They communicate effectively in complex environments, managing varying priorities and stakeholder expectations, while offering meaningful advice to decision-makers. Strategically inclined yet operationally aware, they proactively identify opportunities to enhance supplier performance and relationships. They employ sound judgment and continuous improvement focus to influence outcomes positively.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in managing strategic supplier relationships.
• Expertise in commercial contract management.
• Ability to influence a wide array of stakeholders effectively.
• Experience in resolving complicated supplier challenges.
• Strong skills in governance, reporting, and risk oversight.
• Capability to pinpoint strategic improvement opportunities.
• Well-developed analytical and performance evaluation skills.
• Comfortable engaging with senior leadership.
• Track record in delivering value realization from supplier relationships.
• Relevant tertiary education or professional qualifications such as MCIPS or WorldCC, or equivalently substantial experience.

Work Environment

This role is part of a collaborative and supportive team that values knowledge-sharing, open communication, and collective success under experienced leadership. While responsible for individual duties, the employee will benefit from a culture where colleagues readily assist and mentor while jointly overcoming challenges.

About MPI

MPI partners with New Zealand's food and fibre industry aiming to be the world’s most trusted source for high-value food and fibre products.

Additional Benefits

• Additional MPI leave days.
• Opportunity to purchase extra annual leave.
• Annual wellness payment.
• Biannual paid eye tests and contribution to corrective lenses costs.

Pre-employment Requirements

The preferred applicant will need to pass a credit check due to the financial risk aspect of the role.

Diversity and Inclusion

MPI embraces a commitment to partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and fosters a workplace reflecting its diverse communities. Applications are welcomed from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities.

Application Details

Applicants should include in their cover letter personal values, motivations for applying, and strengths or perspectives they bring, including those gained outside traditional work settings. Applicants must have or be eligible to obtain the right to work in New Zealand.