Market Manager - North America
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Sales & Business Development
Auckland, New Zealand · Wellington, New Zealand
Posted on Jan 7, 2026
A dynamic, fast-paced role based in Auckland or Wellington
The Role
Fascinated by North America? Passionate about helping Kiwi companies win on the world stage? Known for being flexible, fast-moving and generally great to have on a project? Then we should talk.
As the North America Market Manager, you’re essentially the scrum-half of the region – the connective tissue between NZTE’s New Zealand-based engine room and our dynamic, geographically spread team across the United States and Canada. Think: half fixer, half connector, part content creator, full-time catcher of curveballs.
You’ll play a central role helping exporters succeed in the world’s most competitive market, while keeping our New Zealand and in-market teams aligned, informed and moving at pace toward our commercial goals.
Who We Are
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the Government’s international business development agency. We’re a diverse, commercial, globally dispersed team working across 37 countries to help New Zealand companies grow bigger, better and faster for the good of Aotearoa. We work hard, collaborate closely and take pride in making a real impact.
What You’ll Be Doing
Your mission is to lift exporter capability in the North America region (NAM) and help deliver a sharp, well-executed programme of work. You’ll work closely with teams across New Zealand and offshore to develop and run the regional plan, dial up our support for customers, and improve how we report, measure and learn.
As the only NZ-based member of the North America team, you’ll be the person comfortable juggling time zones, pacing meetings across five Trade Commissioners spread between LA, San Francisco, Washington, Vancouver and New York. But at the same time keeping your footing in a world where the rules of global trade are shifting fast.
You’ll work directly with the Regional Director North America, providing principal-level advice and helping to keep the whole region aligned. From business planning and reporting to internal communications and connecting the dots across NAM and NZ Inc., you’ll be a key part of the system that keeps the region running cleanly and coherently.
Stakeholder engagement will be a big part of your day. You’ll build strong relationships across NZ Inc., in-market partners, internal teams and of course exporters. You’ll be the person people come to when they need to know what’s happening in North America, what tools we have, and how to get things moving. One day you will be dealing with a board member, the next SaaS company CEO and the day after that you've be trying to work out how to organise a trade sector hui for applied technology in Washington.
You’ll also bring an innovation lens – helping us refine systems and processes, spotting inefficiencies early, and supporting team visits, inductions and regional engagements.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
You’ll be a confident communicator who’s comfortable working with senior leaders. You’ll support the Regional Director to leverage NZTE’s full resources for the region, and you’ll bring sharp business advisory skills – including the ability to craft clear ministerial input when required.
You’ll be strong at project management and stakeholder wrangling, with a knack for identifying opportunities, simplifying complexity and prioritising what matters most. You’ll help plan, sequence and deliver activities that keep the region humming, including the rhythms of leadership meetings, agendas, follow-ups and reporting.
You’ll maintain close relationships with Customer Managers in New Zealand, ensuring they have up-to-date tools, market insights and customer resources. You’ll also play a critical role representing NZTE within Aotearoa, supporting cross-agency collaboration and helping to identify issues before they become problems.
If you thrive in a role where no two days look the same and where your impact ripples across borders, this is it. Warning, its not for the faint hearted!
Why You’ll Love Working Here
NZTE offers a flexible, supportive and energising environment. You’ll work with talented people across the world, access cutting-edge business networks, and support Kiwi companies doing ambitious and meaningful things. We invest in our people with flexibility, modern tools, development opportunities and a culture where you can bring your whole self to work.
What’s Next
If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply with your CV and cover letter and help shape the success of New Zealand companies in North America.
Applications close Monday 19 January at 11:59pm NZST.
This is an NZ Level 17 role.
You must have the right to work in New Zealand to apply.
Please note: NZTE has an end of year shut down and applications will be shortlisted in January.
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 thought; 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 Partner.