Program Manager - Meat Assurance Services Transformation

Company Description

Everyday our experienced team of 1,700+ people work alongside farmers, producers, and others throughout the food supply chain to help them uphold what Aotearoa stands for in food - a higher standard of quality and safety.

We are passionate about our shared role as Kaitiaki Kai, guardians of food, and have a deep responsibility to do the right thing for food and the environments it comes from.

We are committed to attracting, developing, and retaining great people, and supporting them to be the best they can be.  We know diverse teams are stronger teams and we believe in fairness and opportunity for all.

Job Description

AsureQuality is embarking on a significant transformation of its Assurance Services business, and we're looking for an experienced Program Manager to lead a critical programme of change across the Meat Industry.

Reporting to the Chief Service Delivery Officer – Assurance, you'll lead the delivery of three interconnected workstreams, shaping future-state operating models across our Official Assessor, Examiner and Training services.

This is a high-profile leadership opportunity where you'll bring clarity to complexity, influence key stakeholders and drive sustainable change at pace. Working closely with senior leaders, programme teams, MPI, MIA and unions, you'll ensure the programme delivers meaningful outcomes for our business and the wider industry.

This is a 18-24 month full time, fixed term contract opportunity to ideally start in December or early 2027. Hybrid working, either based at our Te Rapa (Hamilton), Burnside (Christchurch) or Mt Wellington (Auckland) office.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the end-to-end delivery of the Meat 2.0 transformation programme, managing scope, timelines, resources, budgets, interdependencies and risks.
- Drive strategic alignment and ensure delivery of future-state operating models and measurable business benefits.
- Build strong relationships and influence senior leaders, governance groups, MPI, MIA, customers and unions, to ensure a strong outcome for our people, our customers and the industry
- Lead integrated change, communication and engagement strategies to enable workforce readiness and adoption.
- Lead effective cross-functional collaboration, remove delivery roadblocks and strengthen leadership and organisational capability.
- Lead programme governance, reporting, risk management and benefits realisation to ensure sustainable outcomes.

Key Requirements

- Proven experience leading large-scale, complex transformation or change programmes, ideally within operationally complex or regulated environments.
- Strong programme leadership experience, including managing multiple workstreams, budgets, resources, risks and competing priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to influence executive leaders, governance groups and diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience working with unions, regulators and/or industry bodies, including navigating consultation and complex stakeholder relationships.
- Exceptional communication, change leadership and strategic problem-solving skills, with the ability to bring clarity to ambiguity and drive sustainable change.
- Relevant tertiary qualification in business, management or organisational change. Formal programme/project management and change management qualifications are advantageous.

Additional Information

What's in it for you?

- Make a lasting impact: Help shape the future of New Zealand's meat industry.
- Influence at the highest level: Work alongside executive leaders and key industry stakeholders.
- Career-defining opportunity: Lead a high-profile transformation programme and strengthen your strategic leadership experience.
- Lead meaningful change: Bring people together, build capability and turn strategy into tangible outcomes.
- Broaden your influence: Build valuable relationships across AsureQuality and the wider primary industries sector.

This is your opportunity to make a lasting impact on an industry that matters to New Zealand. If you're ready to lead meaningful change and shape the future of meat assurance, apply today.

Helping Aotearoa shape a better food world - Join us today!