Head of External Communications

at  Foodstuffs North Island

ABOUT YOU

You’ll lead a team of communications experts so you’ll be a strong people leader with a passion for thinking about the customer and our business. With a highly consultative style and excellent interpersonal skills you’re able to get the best from diverse groups of people.
With a successful track record in communications, including media relations and leading digital content strategies, ideally in the fast-moving-consumer-goods and/or retail sectors, you’ll be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of strategic communication and what it takes to be successful in this sector. . Your strength lays in your ability to analyse high level conceptual and strategic issues, apply economic and demographic sensitivities, and logic, allowing you to challenge the status quo and the way we tackle complex issues. You have a strong personal work ethic, especially time management skills, with the ability to operate autonomously as a Head of External Communication as well as co-operatively with business leads and the GM Cooperative Affairs.

ABOUT US

A kiwi success story - our co-operatives, Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island, are 100% New Zealand owned and operated. A part of almost every community in NZ, we’ve come from humble beginnings and have grown to become one of New Zealand’s largest and most thriving businesses. We believe it’s our people, our drive to anticipate what our customers want and need - and our commitment to be Here for NZ - that sets us apart.
The Co-operative External Communications team collaborate, create and publish stories that build and protect the reputation of Foodstuffs’ corporate and retail brands

Reporting into the General Manager of Cooperative Affairs, this key role within the business unit’s leadership team is responsible for external communications across the Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island co-ops and their retail and wholesale brands, including PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square, Gilmours and Trents. Responsible for one of New Zealand’s busiest corporate newsrooms, the primary focus of this role is building and protecting Foodstuffs’ reputation. Using a range of channels, including Foodstuffs’ own, you’ll develop and execute communication strategies that build and protect our reputation, engage stakeholders, and support our business objectives.