Customer Manager - Manufacturing & Marine Services

This is a permanent role based in Auckland.

At New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) we use our extensive knowledge and global networks to help Kiwi businesses turn their global ambitions into reality. By supporting New Zealand businesses, we boost New Zealand's economy and reputation.  NZTE helps to share what is special about New Zealand with the rest of the world whilst fulfilling our purpose - to grow New Zealand companies internationally, bigger, better, faster, for the good of New Zealand.

Our Export Customers Team is on an exciting journey to deliver greater impact for our export customers. We are looking for a passionate, customer-focused professional to join our Auckland team as a Customer Manager, with a focus on the Manufacturing & Marine Services within MITS (Manufacturing Infrastructure Technology Services) sector. At NZTE, you will be part of a purpose-driven organisation that values innovation, collaboration, and impact. You will have the freedom to work flexibly, think boldly, and make a real difference for New Zealand businesses on the world stage.

As a Customer Manager, you will be at the forefront of helping New Zealand businesses grow internationally.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• →Building strong, trusted partnerships with customers within the Manufacturing and Marine Services exporters 
• →Gaining deep insight into their business models, challenges, and international ambitions 
• →Co-developing tailored work programmes to help them achieve their goals 
• →Taking a strategic-minded, critical-thinking approach to solve complex problems and help customers make high-impact decisions 
• →Connecting customers with the right experts and global networks 
• →Collaborating with NZTE colleagues across New Zealand and around the world.

This is a dynamic role where your commercial expertise, creativity, curiosity and passion for New Zealand’s success will be highly valued.

You will be partnering with an identified portfolio of high potential growth exporters within the MITS sectors especially within Manufacturing and Marine Services specs. 

You will work closely with customer leadership teams at various stages of their export journey to help accelerate international growth.

With your strong understanding of what it takes as a Customer Manager to partner with companies to drive exports, you will bring strong relationship building and external stakeholder management capability, along with a collaborative approach to achieving shared outcomes. You will also understand the importance of prioritising effectively to deliver maximum commercial impact.

We are looking for a commercially driven, strategic-minded advisor with a strong background in the Manufacturing and Marine Services sector and a passion for helping New Zealand businesses thrive globally. You will be an enthusiastic and confident communicator, with the ability to build strong, trusted relationships with customers and stakeholders. You will bring passion, energy and curiosity to your work, and be genuinely motivated to understand your customers’ opportunities and challenges. You won’t be afraid to challenge customer thinking when required, doing so with empathy, credibility and commercial realism.  You will be comfortable operating at pace, ready to hit the ground running, and known for strong follow through.

You will bring solid knowledge of scaling export businesses internationally, with the ability to work independently while actively connecting with the broader NZTE team to drive outcomes. You will demonstrate resilience, adaptability and a strong learning mindset, along with:

• →Proven experience in working with customers within the MITS sector 
• →Strong experience in working with high-paced, start-up customers that are focused on growing quickly 
• →Ability to manage diverse start-up stakeholder relationships and develop clear, concise market growth plans 
• →Strategic-minded approach to identifying customer needs, prioritising opportunities, and shaping practical pathways to international growth 
• →An innovative and strategic-minded mindset, with the ability to think broadly about how to generate impact for our customers, and the energy to match the pace and ambition of fast-growing exporters

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a customer facing work programme, collaborate across teams, and lead with impact.

NZTE is a truly global organisation, giving you a wonderful experience of working with different cultures around the world as part of our everyday. We know that life is not all about work and we offer flexible working (3 days in the office or with customers). We will give you the right technology to allow you to work anywhere and balance your time. On top of this, we also offer 5 weeks annual leave so you can have that extra time in the year to enjoy what you love doing.

For more information about the role, please review the PD here: Customer_Manager_-_PD.  If this sounds like the opportunity you have been waiting for, we would love to hear from you.

Please apply online with your Resume and Cover Letter by 11:59 PM Sunday 31^st May 2026 telling us why this role is the perfect fit for you.

This role is banded NZ Level 17.

Please note: We will be shortlisting candidates as applications are received. If you are interested in this position, please do not wait to apply as we may close the ad earlier than advertised.

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.  If we need to make specific accommodations in any part of the interview process, please note this in your application or discuss with the Talent Acquisition team.