This role is based in our office in downtown Vancouver, Canada
Who we are:
At New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE), our purpose is simple: to grow companies internationally, bigger, better, faster, for the good of New Zealand. We work alongside ambitious New Zealand businesses, helping them build capability, navigate complexity and unlock growth opportunities around the world.
We're looking for a Business Growth Advisor to join our Canadian team, based in Vancouver a 12-month fixed-term contract. This role will support ambitious New Zealand food, beverage and consumer goods companies to enter, scale and grow in the Canadian market.
What you'll be doing
As a trusted advisor, you'll work closely with a portfolio of New Zealand food, beverage and consumer goods companies, helping them accelerate growth across Canada and build long-term market success.
Bringing your commercial expertise, market knowledge and industry networks, you'll partner with kiwi companies to identify growth opportunities, strengthen brands, expand distribution, and navigate the complexities of operating in the Canadian market.
We're looking for someone who has first-hand experience growing businesses, brands or products in the Canadian market. You'll be a commercially savvy advisor who understands consumer trends, route-to-market strategies, retail environments and the realities of scaling a business.
This is a relationship-focused coaching role that requires a high EQ, strong commercial judgement, curiosity, adaptability and a passion for helping New Zealand businesses achieve their growth ambitions in Canada.
You will:
- Partner with customers to identify, evaluate and pursue growth opportunities.
- Support businesses to move beyond initial market entry and build long-term success.
- Provide advice on brand development, consumer insights and market growth strategies.
- Help customers navigate Canada's complex regulatory and commercial landscape.
- Identify distribution, retail and route-to-market opportunities.
- Connect businesses with valuable commercial networks, partners and industry contacts.
- Work collaboratively across NZTE's global network to support customer growth plans.
- Apply data, market intelligence and AI-enabled tools to generate sharper insights, challenge assumptions and support better commercial decisions.
- Support the delivery of high-impact initiatives, projects and activities that contribute to customer growth objectives.
What you'll need to be successful:
We're looking for someone with real-world commercial experience, strong empathy for the realities of growing a business offshore, and a genuine understanding of what it takes to succeed in-market.
You'll bring:
- Experience helping companies scale and grow after entering a market, particularly in food, beverage or consumer goods sectors.
- Strong expertise in brand and channel development, consumer insights and commercial growth strategies.
- Experience working with grocery chains, retail channels or consumer-focused businesses.
- Understanding of distribution models, route-to-market approaches and partner networks.
- Confidence operating within complex regulatory and commercial environments.
- Strong relationship-building, stakeholder management and advisory skills.
- Commercial experience gained directly within industry.
- The flexibility to work across a range of customer needs and sectors.
- An enthusiastic “make it happen” attitude, are used to ball juggling and working across time zones.
- Familiarity with New Zealand business culture and export sectors would be an advantage. Above all, you’ll bring practical commercial experience, empathy for the customer journey and the credibility to advise businesses on what it really takes to grow in Canada.
The role is based in downtown Vancouver, and requires a minimum of three days per week in the office. Light travel (up to 2-3 times per year) within North America may be required to attend customer meetings, industry events, and team activities.
Why you’ll love working here:
This is an opportunity to play a meaningful role in helping New Zealand businesses succeed in one of our most exciting export markets.
NZTE offers a flexible, fun, and stimulating environment with a unique opportunity to develop and access world-class business networks and work with a talented, diverse, international organization. We’re a public service organisation that deeply cares for our team and support them with flexible working options, technology, development opportunities and wrap around support so that you can bring your whole self to work whether that’s virtually and physically.
If you're passionate about business growth, bring strong commercial experience, and want to help New Zealand companies thrive in Canada, we'd love to hear from you.
This role is banded at VAN L17 and salary range is between CAD $125,000 - $135,000 per annum.
This is a 12-month fixed-term opportunity. While opportunities beyond the initial term may arise, any extension or future role arrangements will depend on organisational needs at the time. Full terms of employment, including a probationary period, will be set out in the employment agreement.
What’s next:
Please check out the position description here, and apply with a cover letter and current CV. Please ensure you include a cover letter describing why you think you are suited to this role.
Please note that this role is known internally as a Business Development Manager.
This vacancy closes 5pm PDT on 11 September, and may close earlier subject to the volume and quality of applications received.
Applicants must have an existing authorization to work in Canada for the full term of the opportunity. Employment visa sponsorship is not available. We are managing this hire internally and are not accepting inquiries from third-party agencies.
We believe New Zealand is good for the world. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is an equal opportunity employer. At NZTE it is all about our people and we seek diversity of thought; we welcome and encourage you to apply regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurodiversity or disability. We also welcome applications from Veterans. If we need to make specific accommodations for you in any part of the recruitment process, please advise us.
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