Business Development Manager

• Flexible hybrid working environment, 3 days office based
• Progressive wellbeing culture, where diversity & learning is valued to support you to be your best self
• Partner with innovative Kiwi entrepreneurs who are making their mark in the Food & Beverage, Tech and Consumer Goods sectors

This role is based in Berlin

The key focus in this role will be using your expert market knowledge, networks and commercial tenacity to help New Zealand businesses grow bigger, better, faster across consumer goods, food and beverage, manufacturing sectors in Germany and Poland.

Who we are

Te Taurapa Tūhono | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is New Zealand’s international business development agency. We work with some of New Zealand’s most forward-thinking companies, helping them grow internationally for the benefit of New Zealand.

Based at the New Zealand Embassy in Berlin, our team supports New Zealand companies looking to establish and grow across northern Europe, with Germany as our primary focus market and Poland offering significant opportunities for further commercial growth.

What you’ll be doing

Germany and Poland offer exciting opportunities for New Zealand businesses. We are looking for a highly motivated, self-starting Business Development Manager who can bring strong commercial capability, and the confidence to work across a diverse customer portfolio of food and beverage, tech, consumer goods, across Germany and Poland.

From opening doors and building connections, to providing market insight and strategic advice, you will work alongside New Zealand exporters to unlock international growth opportunities. You'll build relationships with company founders, key executives, and commercial teams to understand their goals, opportunities, and challenges. Drawing on your commercial expertise, deep knowledge of the German and Polish markets, and NZTE’s services and networks, you’ll help New Zealand companies develop go-to-market strategies, access relevant insights and connections, and successfully enter and scale in both markets.

You will identify potential partners and opportunities, help customers develop and grow routes to market, navigate relevant regulatory and FTA agreement requirements, and build relationships with partners and industry contacts. You will manage a busy portfolio of companies at different growth stages, so the ability to pivot and prioritise well, and apply your commercial judgement across different sectors and challenges will be important.

What you’ll need to be successful

Proven experience in international business development within the food and beverage, consumer goods, or tech sectors will be crucial to your success. As will your demonstrable understanding of the business landscape and commercial success within the Polish market over the last 3-5 years.

Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of the commercial environment and how business gets done, you will coach customers, supporting them to tailor their business models for maximum success. You’ll be integral in identifying opportunities and challenges, growing customer knowledge, and supporting strategic thinking.

An active listener who is naturally adept at building relationships, you demonstrate excellent communication and influencing skills, maintain a proactive, solutions-focused mindset, and are committed to delivering results for customers and partners. Superior communication and expectation-management skills are critical, as is the resourcefulness to connect customers with the right opportunities, partners, expertise and networks.

You will understand how to develop and leverage industry relationships and be willing to roll up your sleeves to help customers make progress. Your enthusiastic, can-do attitude, proactive nature, creative problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate across virtual and international teams will all contribute to your success.

Fluent English and German are necessary for this role. Polish business-level language skills would be a strong advantage.

Why you’ll love working here:

NZTE offers a flexible, fun and stimulating environment, along with a unique opportunity to develop and access world-class business networks as part of a talented and diverse team.

You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact for New Zealand companies as they pursue growth in competitive and sophisticated European markets. You will also be part of a global organisation, working with colleagues around the world to contribute to New Zealand’s economic development goals.

What’s next?

Do you think you have what it takes? Then we want to hear from you.

For more information, please refer to the attached position description here,

Apply by submitting a cover letter and CV telling us why you are the right person for the role, including your recent Polish experience, and market knowledge you would bring across both Poland and Germany.

Applications close Tuesday 20 October 11:59pm CEST.

You must possess the right to work in Germany and Poland to be eligible for this role.

We believe Aotearoa is good for the world. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is an equal opportunity employer. At NZTE, it is all about our people and we seek diversity of thought. We welcome and encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

If you require specific accommodations at any stage of the interview process, please note this in your application or discuss it with the Talent Acquisition Partner.