Director Missions
Wellington, New Zealand
Posted on Jun 16, 2026
This role is Wellington based
At New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), our purpose is to grow companies internationally for the good of New Zealand. Prime Minister and Minister-led missions showcase New Zealand’s strengths, support exporters in key markets, and build important commercial and government relationships. This role sits at the centre of that work.
As Director Missions, you will lead NZTE’s missions programme and specialist team to deliver world-class mission experiences. Reporting to the General Manager International and sitting on the International Leadership Team, you will work across NZTE’s global network, NZ Inc. partners, government agencies, and senior stakeholders in New Zealand and offshore to align priorities and deliver successful outcomes.
What you’ll be doing
The Director Missions leads NZTE’s planning and delivery of high-quality international missions that support commercial outcomes and strengthen New Zealand’s presence in key markets. As part of the International Leadership Team, you will contribute to strategy and direction while ensuring disciplined delivery in a fast-paced, high-profile environment. While the focus is outbound missions, you and your team will also support inbound missions as needed.
You will lead and support a specialist team that acts as a centre of excellence for missions across NZTE, lifting capability, improving practice, and delivering world-class, high-impact experiences. Bringing strong NZ Inc. and government understanding, including experience with the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministers’ offices, or NZ Inc. partners, you will shape priorities, align delivery, and ensure strong execution from planning through to completion.
A key part of the role is operating effectively when circumstances change. You will pivot quickly, and adapt delivery approaches while maintaining confidence, focus, and quality. You will make sound calls on where to focus effort, prioritise high-value work, and constructively push back to achieve the best outcome in a busy, highly visible role.
What you’ll need to be successful
You will bring senior leadership experience in complex commercial, business, government, or cross-sector environments, with proven ability to develop and deliver both strategy and operational plans. You will be comfortable leading through ambiguity, working at pace, and managing competing priorities while maintaining quality and customer impact.
You will be a strong people leader who inspires, coaches, and enables others through influence, judgement, and resilience. Composed under pressure, you will focus on what matters most, remove roadblocks, and keep others aligned and effective through change.
You will bring strong stakeholder leadership skills, building trust and influencing senior people across New Zealand and internationally. Confident across government, NZ Inc., industry, companies and NZTE’s offshore network, you will influence with clear communication, sound judgement, and the confidence to challenge constructively.
Operational excellence will be crucial. You will bring sharp delivery focus, strong attention to detail, and the agility to adapt, make timely decisions, redesign plans, and keep mission activity aligned to key outcomes.
Why you will love working here:
This is an opportunity to lead high-profile international engagements, shape NZTE’s mission impact for exporters and New Zealand, and work across government, business, and global markets.
NZTE offers a flexible, stimulating environment, access to world-class business networks, and the chance to work with a talented, diverse, international team.
What's next
If this sounds like the opportunity you have been looking for, please review the Position Description.
To apply, please your resume and a cover letter which details why you are interested in this opportunity. Applications close Tuesday 30 June at 11:59pm.
Please note, you must have the right to work in New Zealand to apply for this role.
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.