Programme Manager – Responsible Dairy

Newstead, Hamilton

Permanent, Full Time

Shape the future of New Zealand dairy farming

At DairyNZ, our purpose is to deliver a positive future for New Zealand dairy farming. We work alongside farmers, industry partners, researchers, and government to drive meaningful change that strengthens the resilience, profitability, and sustainability of New Zealand's most important export sector.

We are seeking an exceptional Programme Manager to lead Responsible Dairy, a seven-year programme that will help accelerate productivity, environmental performance, and resilience across the dairy sector.

About Responsible Dairy

Responsible Dairy is a major co-investment programme led by DairyNZ on behalf of the dairy sector and supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries, dairy companies, science providers, technology partners, and leading farmers.

The programme will bring together science, innovation, and farmer adoption to test emerging technologies, demonstrate next-generation farm systems, and develop practical tools that help farmers improve productivity, profitability, and environmental outcomes. Through a national network of demonstration farms and industry partnerships, Responsible Dairy aims to accelerate the adoption of solutions that strengthen the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of New Zealand dairy farming.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Research and Science Performance, you will lead the successful delivery of a complex programme comprising up to 14 interconnected research, development and extension projects.

You will:

• Provide programme leadership, governance, planning, financial management, reporting, and risk oversight.
• Build trusted relationships with funders, research providers, industry partners, farmers, and commercial stakeholders.
• Ensure high-quality research is translated into practical tools, knowledge, and solutions that deliver farmer impact.
• Drive extension, adoption, and benefits realisation activities across the programme.
• Lead and influence across a diverse network of internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared programme outcomes.

This is a highly visible leadership role that sits at the intersection of science, innovation, farmer adoption, government investment, and sector transformation.

About You

You will be an experienced programme leader with a track record of delivering large, complex programmes in collaborative environments.

You will bring:

• Proven experience leading large, complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders, projects, budgets, and external partners.
• Experience delivering research, extension, innovation, or industry development programmes within the primary sector.
• Strong programme management expertise across governance, planning, risk management, financial management, and benefits realisation.
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement, communication, and influencing skills.
• Experience working with researchers, technical experts, industry stakeholders, and end users to achieve adoption and impact.
• The ability to lead and influence across matrix environments without direct authority.
• Sound commercial judgement and experience managing contracts, funding agreements, and programme obligations.

Experience within the dairy sector, research and innovation environments, or government-funded programmes will be highly regarded.

Why DairyNZ?

This is a unique opportunity to lead a nationally significant programme that will help shape the future of New Zealand dairy farming. You'll work alongside leading farmers, researchers, industry organisations, technology providers, and government agencies to deliver meaningful outcomes for farmers and the wider sector.

If you're motivated by complex challenges, collaborative leadership, and creating lasting impact for New Zealand farmers, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now and help deliver a positive future for New Zealand dairy farming.

Check out the full position description here to read more detail. Applications close 26 June 2026 at 11:55pm