Head of Strategy

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?

This is a rare opportunity to step into a newly created senior leadership role at the heart of Zespri’s future. Reporting directly to the Chief Strategy Officer, the Head of Strategy sits within the Strategy, Innovation and Sustainability function and will lead Zespri’s enterprise strategy capability, shaping the long-term direction of the business under Zespri 2035.  

The role brings together enterprise strategy, strategy mobilisation and organisational coherence, while supporting market and product portfolio strategies. You’ll ensure the right strategic conversations happen at the right time, with the right people, grounded in evidence — translating long-term ambition into clear choices, frameworks, execution disciplines and value-based decision-making.  

By combining enterprise strategy and mobilisation under one accountable role, you’ll help Zespri make sharper decisions, respond cohesively to portfolio workload, and build the strategic capability needed to deliver on its 2035 ambitions. Based in Mount Maunganui or Singapore, this role offers the chance to influence at enterprise level, work closely with senior leaders, and shape how strategy turns into action across a complex global business.  

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the development of Zespri’s enterprise strategy, ensuring alignment with the 2035 ambition.  
• Setting and evolving the enterprise strategy agenda, including leadership of the strategy team and business modelling and insights capability.  
• Framing strategic choices, priorities and trade-offs for the Executive Team and Board.  
• Acting as custodian of Zespri’s Board Priority Plan - owning the process for setting, agreeing and tracking enterprise priorities, metrics and objectives through the year.  
• Translating enterprise strategy into clear, sequenced execution priorities and driving coherence across Zespri.  
• Connecting strategy with the EPMO to ensure initiatives are scoped, resourced and delivered against intent.  
• Working closely with Product Management portfolio and Market Strategy teams to respond to workload shifts and support cohesive operation.  
• Deploying a flow-to-work model to apply strategy capability (including business modelling, insights and strategic frameworks) to the highest-priority initiatives.  
• Representing the Strategy function on enterprise governance forums and the leadership team.  
• Developing and coaching strategy talent, building the function’s mandate, capability and influence over time.

Ko wai koe? Who are you?

You are a commercially astute, strategic enterprise leader who thrives in complexity. You know how to turn ambition into action, bring clarity to ambiguity, and influence across functions, geographies and cultures. You bring the confidence and credibility to challenge thinking at senior levels while building trusted relationships and taking people with you.  

You are equally comfortable shaping long-term enterprise direction, leading portfolio conversations, guiding governance rhythms, and helping teams translate strategy into coherent delivery. You bring measured pace, sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively through ambiguity and changing market conditions.  

The successful candidate will possess:  

• 15+ years’ experience in enterprise strategy, corporate development or equivalent senior commercial leadership roles.  
• A proven track record leading enterprise strategy development and execution in a complex, multinational organisation.  
• Deep experience translating long-term strategic direction into prioritised execution, with strong connection to portfolio and operational delivery.  
• Strong financial, commercial and analytical literacy, including comfort with business modelling, competitive analysis and value-based decision-making.  
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence across diverse functions, geographies, cultures and senior stakeholder groups.  
• Experience leading product or portfolio management at scale, ideally within FMCG, agribusiness or branded consumer products.  
• Strong leadership, coaching and team development capability, with the ability to build mandate and influence for a developing function.  
• The drive, energy and continuous improvement mindset to deliver through ambiguity and changing market conditions.  
• A tertiary qualification in business, economics, strategy or a related discipline; a postgraduate qualification such as an MBA is desirable.  
• Experience in management consulting, corporate strategy or an equivalent enterprise strategy environment would be advantageous.  

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.

Tono mai inaianei! Apply Now! Applications close 3 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.