Regional Director - North America (NAM)

This diplomatic role is based in Los Angeles.

If you are currently based in NZ you would be required to relocate to Los Angeles for the duration of this posting.

Who we are:

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), Te Taurapa Tūhono, is New Zealand's international business development agency, we help companies grow for the good of New Zealand.

At NZTE we thrive on providing our customers - New Zealand export companies, with world-class advice on how to grow internationally. This opportunity will provide you with exposure to NZ businesses succeeding on the global stage. You will be part of a truly connected global organisation operating from47offices worldwide, working collaboratively to positively impact New Zealand's economy. NZTE offers the opportunity to work with New Zealand's most exciting, innovative and forward-thinking companies.

What you'll be doing: 

This pivotal senior leadership role is responsible for our North America operations, covering the United States and Canada.  You will be leading leaders across our five NAM regional offices, inspiring teams to execute strategies and further build our presence in the region.

Reporting to the General Manager International, and as a member of the International Leadership Team, the position comes with significant leadership responsibility, involvement in implementing NZTE strategy and leading and modelling our values and characters. You will support and enable high performing teams across multiple markets while fostering a strong, commercial and collaborative work culture.

We are looking for a collaborative global leader who will be able to draw on their deep understanding of the business eco-system of the region and will be able to work strategically within these dynamic markets. 

In this high-profile position, you will support New Zealand Government Ministers and officials as they visit the region, helping them to engage effectively with relevant authorities and/or business communities.  You will represent New Zealand in the market and leverage strong collaborative relationships to forge strong bilateral ties that promote New Zealand’s economic growth.

​​What you'll need to be successful as a Regional Director in North America:

- Effective Communication and Adaptability: Be an excellent communicator, providing clarity and inspiring the team to continue to provide world-class support to our customers. This is the region with the most customer interest so staying agile and adaptable are key attributes.

- Leadership focus:  Given the size of this region the most critical component of this role is leading with inspiration and clarity.  Your ability to juggle multiple work programmes while ensuring you focus on delivering the greatest impact is key.

- Empowerment and Culture Building: Empower leaders while continuing to build the culture of a team that is geographically dispersed.  Play a significant role in NZ Inc.

You'll be a highly credible, senior leader with a keen interest in high potential NZ companies (our Customers) and our New Zealand success stories. You will come with a strong understanding of exporting and operating businesses on a global scale and apply agility, composure and the ability to deal with ambiguity to learn quickly. If you are looking for the opportunity to be an influential leader within a high performing and agile organisation, then this is it!   

Please note:

·       The post is for a minimum of 3 years. 

·       This is an official representative role, and the preferred candidate will be subject to a number of vetting processes including obtaining relevant New Zealand security clearances, which requires New Zealand citizenship. 

Why you'll love working here:

This is an excellent opportunity to build your career in a truly international organisation. The role provides exposure to leading multinational companies, as well as cutting-edge start-up companies in New Zealand, therefore the depth, breadth and scope for this role is huge and unique. The culture at NZTE is awesome, and you will be in the enviable position of leading a well-supported, impressive and committed team.

What's next:

For more information about the role, please see the Regional_Director_PD and apply now with your resume and a cover letter clearly outlining your suitability for the role.

 Applications close Sunday 11:59pm NZ Time 16 February 2025.

Please use the Eligibility self-check tool to check your eligibility before applying, if your result is “likely” and you are shortlisted – we will discuss next steps. Please note your results in your application.  

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 though; 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.