Global Head of Enterprise Risk, Assurance & Legal

Kō wai mātou? Who are we?

Zespri is more than simply the world's single-largest marketer of kiwifruit. We like to think of ourselves as fruit on a mission and as rebels with a cause: to help people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit. We are proudly the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit, selling kiwifruit in more than 50 countries. We work with around 2,800 New Zealand and 1,500 international growers and post-harvest companies to source the best-quality Zespri Kiwifruit which we supply through our distribution partners to wholesale and retail customers. We are one of New Zealand's best-known international brands, dedicated to creating sustainable long-term value for growers.

He aha te mahi? What's the role?

We are seeking an exceptional enterprise leader to build a world-class Enterprise Risk, Assurance & Legal function that strengthens organisational resilience, enhances decision-making and gives the Board, Executive and stakeholders confidence that Zespri's most critical risks are understood, owned and effectively managed. 

Reporting to the CFO and working closely with the Executive, Board and Audit & Risk Management Committee, you will define and deliver the vision, strategy and multi-year roadmap that lifts risk maturity, embeds a stronger risk culture and supports sustainable value creation across Zespri's global operations. 

Success in this Global Head of Enterprise Risk, Assurance & Legal role will be measured by your ability to build organisational capability, strengthen accountability, improve decision making and provide confidence that Zespri's most significant risks are understood, owned and effectively managed. Ultimately, your success will be reflected in a stronger risk culture and an organisation that consistently makes better, more informed decisions. 

This is more than a functional leadership role. It is an opportunity to shape how a globally recognised New Zealand company thinks about risk, governance and organisational resilience for the future.

Key Accountabilities

Enterprise Risk Leadership 

- Develop and execute Zespri's enterprise risk strategy and multi-year maturity roadmap aligned to organisational strategy and long-term value creation. 
- Lift organisational risk awareness, ownership and capability, embedding risk-informed decision-making across the business. 
- Strengthen risk ownership and accountability across leadership teams, ensuring risk management becomes an integral part of strategic planning, investment decisions and operational execution. 
- Ensure strategic, operational, regulatory, financial and reputational risks are identified, assessed, managed and reported effectively. 
- Provide forward-looking insight on emerging risks and opportunities, helping the Executive and Board anticipate challenges, respond with confidence and make better decisions. 
- Foster a culture that balances performance, accountability and disciplined risk management. 

Assurance, Governance & Compliance 

- Lead a risk-based assurance programme that provides confidence to the Board, Executive and stakeholders that key risks and controls are being effectively managed. 
- Oversee the internal audit function, ensuring assurance activities are independent, commercially relevant and aligned to enterprise priorities. 
- Strengthen governance frameworks, controls and reporting to support effective oversight, transparency and informed decision-making. 
- Lead company secretarial and governance support for the Board, Board Committees and Executive. 
- Oversee regulatory compliance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions. 

Legal Leadership 

- Lead Zespri's global legal business partnering model, ensuring timely, commercially pragmatic and high-quality legal advice. 
- Ensure legal, compliance and governance practices evolve to meet changing business and regulatory requirements. 
- Protect and enhance organisational value through effective management of legal and regulatory risk. 

Leadership & Influence 

- Develop and lead a high-performing team across enterprise risk, internal audit, governance, legal and compliance. 
- Build trusted relationships with leaders across the organisation while providing independent and constructive challenge. 
- Drive organisational and cultural change through influence, credibility and leadership. 
- Create a function that is trusted, pragmatic, commercially focused and highly valued by the business.

Ko wai koe? Who are you?

To be successful in this role you will be a strategic and influential enterprise leader with a proven track record of building capability, driving change and improving organisational performance through stronger risk management and governance. 

You are recognised for your ability to navigate complexity, influence senior stakeholders and create lasting organisational impact. 

You will bring: 

• Significant senior leadership experience in enterprise risk, assurance, governance, legal, compliance or related disciplines. 
• A proven ability to develop and execute enterprise wide risk, assurance or governance strategies and lead meaningful capability uplift programmes. 
• Deep expertise in enterprise risk management, governance, assurance and control environments. 
• Experience working directly with Boards, Board Committees and Executive teams. 
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance opportunity, risk and long-term value creation. 
• Exceptional influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to challenge and advise at the most senior levels. 
• Demonstrated success leading cultural and behavioural change across complex organisations. 
• Experience operating within global or multi jurisdictional environments. 
• High levels of integrity, judgement and resilience. 
• Proven success leading high performing teams and developing future leaders. 
• Relevant tertiary qualification in law, risk management, business, finance, governance or a related discipline. 
• Professional qualifications in risk management, internal audit, governance, compliance or legal practice will be highly regarded. 

He aha e tika ai a Zespri? Why Zespri?

Our people are what makes our culture so irresistible and uniquely Zespri. We are a passionate and mighty team of 850+ employees in 23 different locations globally. Working at Zespri is an opportunity to join a fast-paced, culture-driven environment unlike any other. We want people who share our values of making it happen, creating real connections, and leaving a legacy. Join us in shaping our future and be part of a truly unique organisation.
 

• Competitive overall remuneration package, including a Short-Term Incentive scheme opportunity
• FlexWELL flexible work ethos; WFH & the office.
• Additional paid annual leave day per year (Zespri Day).
• Two additional paid leave days for you to proactively support the moments that genuinely boost your mental, physical, emotional, and social wellbeing (Boost Days).
• Global Life and Permanent Disability Insurance.
• Group Medical Insurance benefits.
• Convenient Mount Maunganui office location, with free onsite parking.
• Your daily dose of Vitamin C with free kiwifruit!

If you are motivated by building organisational capability, influencing executive decision-making and creating a lasting legacy through stronger risk leadership, governance and assurance, we would love to hear from you, apply today! Applications close 26 August 2026.

At Zespri, we understand the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences, and a fair hiring process is the first step to getting there. We want to attract a diverse range of people and encourage everyone from all backgrounds and walks of life to apply. Please let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments to take part in the recruitment and selection process by reaching out to our Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@zespri.com.

Agency

Zespri will not accept applications or contact from any temporary staffing agency, placement service or professional recruiter for this vacancy (“Agency”).

Where Zespri requires the support of an agency to fulfil a vacancy, we will proactively seek this support from our network of Agencies.  We respectfully ask that you do not contact Zespri or any of its affiliates/employees regarding vacancies, and reserve the right not to reply.

Zespri will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any fees, commissions or other payments related to such unsolicited resumes.