Head of Global Corporate Services

Date: 14 Aug 2026

Location: Mount Maunganui, NZ

Company: Zespri Group Limited

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?

 

At Zespri, we're looking for an exceptional enterprise services leader to design, build and lead Zespri's Global Corporate Services function.

 

Bringing together Procurement, Shared Services, and Finance Projects & Systems, this newly created leadership role will establish a more standardised, digitally enabled and commercially focused operating model that improves efficiency, control, customer experience and enterprise value across our global business. The role aligns with Zespri's future finance operating model, bringing together key services into a more integrated and scalable capability.

 

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you'll shape the future of source-to-pay, order-to-cash, supplier lifecycle management, contract administration, master data and finance process improvement. This is not a traditional shared services role. Success will require balancing scalable, efficient service delivery with the commercial judgement, supplier insight and business partnering needed to support strategic decisions across a complex global organisation.

 

You will also play a pivotal role in helping Zespri realise the full value of its investment in SAP, automation, workflow technologies and AI-enabled process improvement, creating a more connected and future-focused corporate services model.

 

Partnering closely with Finance, Procurement, Legal, Technology, People & Culture, and regional leaders, you'll build a customer-centric service culture while driving transformation, capability uplift and measurable business outcomes.

Key Accountabilities

 

Strategic Leadership & Transformation

  • Define and deliver Zespri's Global Corporate Services strategy, aligned to the enterprise strategy and finance transformation roadmap.
  • Design and implement a future-state global operating model including service scope, governance, service catalogue and performance management.
  • Establish Global Corporate Services as a strategic enabler of enterprise performance, not simply an operational support function.
  • Lead the practical adoption of SAP, workflow, self-service, automation and AI-enabled process improvement to unlock value and improve service delivery.

 

Operational Excellence & Customer Experience

  • Establish consistent, high-quality delivery of global corporate services across all in-scope processes and geographies.
  • Define clear service standards, decision rights, escalation pathways and accountability frameworks across finance, procurement and corporate services processes.
  • Drive standardisation, simplification and automation of repeatable activities while ensuring critical commercial and judgement-based capabilities remain close to the business.
  • Create a customer-centric service culture with clear service levels, performance measures and continuous improvement disciplines.

 

Value Creation & Commercial Performance

  • Deliver measurable improvements in cost-to-serve, service quality, process cycle times, control effectiveness and customer satisfaction.
  • Partner with finance leadership to improve working capital outcomes, cash flow performance and operational discipline.
  • Lead value realisation initiatives that generate sustainable efficiency, productivity and service improvements.
  • Develop robust business cases for transformation initiatives and track benefits delivery.

 

Leadership & Capability

  • Build, lead and develop a high-performing global team across Procurement, Shared Services and Finance Projects & Systems.
  • Develop future capability in business partnering, process excellence, automation, data and service management.
  • Create a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration and continuous improvement.
  • Champion modern ways of working, innovation and operational excellence.

 

Governance & Risk Management

  • Maintain strong financial controls, governance and compliance across all corporate services activities.
  • Own global process standards, controls and policies across in-scope functions.
  • Provide transparent reporting to the CFO and Executive on performance, transformation progress, risks and opportunities.

Ko wai koe? Who are you?

 

You're a proven transformation leader with experience building or materially transforming shared services, corporate services or enterprise operations functions within a complex, multi-geography environment.

 

You combine strong operational leadership with commercial acumen, strategic thinking and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across a global business.

 

You'll also bring:

 

  • Significant leadership experience in Global Corporate Services, Shared Services, Finance Operations or Enterprise Operations.
  • A proven track record leading large-scale operating model transformation and organisational change.
  • Demonstrated success delivering measurable efficiency, productivity and service improvements.
  • Strong understanding of source-to-pay, order-to-cash, supplier lifecycle, contract administration, finance systems and process optimisation.
  • Experience balancing standardisation and automation with commercial judgement and business partnering.
  • Strong procurement operations capability, including contract lifecycle management and supplier value optimisation.
  • Hands-on experience leading digitisation, workflow technology, automation, self-service solutions and AI-enabled business improvement.
  • Strong understanding of governance, risk management and control environments.
  • The ability to influence and collaborate effectively with Executive and Board-level stakeholders.
  • A customer-centric, commercially focused and pragmatic leadership style.
  • A relevant Bachelor's degree and senior professional qualification are required. Postgraduate qualifications and certifications in Lean Six Sigma, change management, digital transformation, AI or automation 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're energised by transformation, passionate about customer-focused service excellence, and excited by the opportunity to create a world-class global corporate services function that delivers measurable business value, we'd love to hear from you. Applications close 28 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.