Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand · Hybrid
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 e…
Skills: Enterprise risk management, Governance, Assurance, Legal leadership, Strategic planning
Newport Beach, California, United States · Hybrid
$102k–$131k/yr
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 e…
Skills: Demand planning, Integrated business planning, Supply chain management, S&OP, SAP IBP
Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand · Hybrid
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 e…
Skills: Supply chain management, Data analysis, Operational performance, Cost-to-serve analysis, Strategic planning
Cisterna di Latina, Lazio, Italy · On-site
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 e…
Skills: Agriculture, Laboratory testing, Data collection, Attention to detail, Problem-solving
Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand · Hybrid
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 e…
Skills: Analytical skills, Commercial analysis, Supplier accountability, Financial outcomes calculation, Data management
Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand · Hybrid
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 e…
Skills: Legal administration, Contract management, Documentation, Investigation, Negotiation
Taiwan · Hybrid
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 aro…
Skills: Supply chain management, Logistics, Quality management, Inventory management, Demand planning
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy · Hybrid
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 e…
Skills: Cool Chain Management, Post-Harvest Operations, Inventory Management, Data Analysis, Stakeholder Collaboration
Fukuoka, Japan · Hybrid
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 e…
Skills: Crop Estimation, Maturity Clearance, Residue Programmes, Data Management, Excel
Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand • Hybrid
Sign up with Clera and we'll reach out the moment a role actually fits you — no more spraying applications into the void.
The role involves developing and executing a global enterprise risk, assurance, and legal strategy to strengthen organizational resilience and decision-making. You will lead high-performing teams and provide critical insights to the Board and Executive to ensure risks are effectively managed and aligned with long-term value creation.
Candidates must have significant senior leadership experience in enterprise risk, governance, or legal disciplines with a proven track record of driving organizational change. A relevant tertiary qualification is required, and professional certifications in risk, audit, or legal practice are highly regarded.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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 [email protected].
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.
Supplying premium-quality kiwifruit to over 50 markets around the globe.
Welcome to Zespri, one of the world’s most successful horticultural marketing companies and New Zealand’s largest horticultural exporter, exporting kiwifruit to more than 50 countries around the world, managing 30 percent of the global volume. Zespri is 100 percent owned by current and former kiwifruit growers and has a global team of 900 based in Mount Maunganui and throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. Our purpose is to help people, communities and the environment thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit, and we work with 2,800 growers in New Zealand and 1,500 growers offshore to provide consumers with fresh, healthy and great-tasting Zespri Green, RubyRed and SunGold Kiwifruit. In 2025/26, we supplied 248.1 million trays (more than 893,000 tonnes) of kiwifruit to consumers in more than 50 markets, and recorded global operating revenue of NZ$6.13 billion.
Offices: 400 Maunganui Road, Mt Maunganui, 3149, NZ
Supplying premium-quality kiwifruit to over 50 markets around the globe.
Welcome to Zespri, one of the world’s most successful horticultural marketing companies and New Zealand’s largest horticultural exporter, exporting kiwifruit to more than 50 countries around the world, managing 30 percent of the global volume. Zespri is 100 percent owned by current and former kiwifruit growers and has a global team of 900 based in Mount Maunganui and throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. Our purpose is to help people, communities and the environment thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit, and we work with 2,800 growers in New Zealand and 1,500 growers offshore to provide consumers with fresh, healthy and great-tasting Zespri Green, RubyRed and SunGold Kiwifruit. In 2025/26, we supplied 248.1 million trays (more than 893,000 tonnes) of kiwifruit to consumers in more than 50 markets, and recorded global operating revenue of NZ$6.13 billion.
Offices: 400 Maunganui Road, Mt Maunganui, 3149, NZ
