Business Growth Advisor - Agribusiness

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise • Los Angeles, CA

7h • $150,000 - $170,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is New Zealand's international business development agency, a hands-on, collaborative, and commercially focused team working with innovative New Zealand companies. NZTE offers a high-trust and purpose-driven culture with opportunities to develop world-class business networks and work with a diverse, international team on global projects. The Business Growth Advisor will leverage their experience in building sales teams, entering new markets, and evaluating niche business opportunities to coach and assist New Zealand Agritech exporters. This involves helping them research the US market, develop and execute business growth plans, and build key relationships and partnerships within the competitive US Agribusiness industry. The portfolio will include SMBs to multinational companies, with needs ranging from market scoping and understanding US distribution models to expanding sales and marketing efforts. The role involves working with leadership and C-level management on strengthening US teams, identifying in-market partners, developing new channels, researching growth opportunities, and expanding product offerings. The position reports to the Los Angeles office and can be based in Los Angeles, CA (hybrid, 3 days in office/meetings) or Denver, CO (fully remote with quarterly Santa Monica office visits, potential future hybrid in Denver). Up to 20% domestic travel is required for customer meetings and tradeshows. The advisor will manage a portfolio of 13-18 companies, focusing on Animal Health, Dairy, and Livestock, requiring strong time management, organizational skills, and a broad understanding of US agriculture. Building remote relationships, trust, and credibility is essential, as is curiosity about company challenges and proactive problem-solving.

Requirements

• Strong business development or consulting experience
• Independent thinker who has significant strategic and commercial experience in multiple positions over your career
• Ability to build and nurture relationships and networks
• Well-developed listening, influencing and communication skills
• Understand the pressures within this long-horizon market
• Able to articulate your technical understanding, helping customers to navigate complex channel relationships, manage uncertainty and pivot as routes to market evolve
• Experience working across sales, marketing, operations and strategy with a key understanding of innovation, farmer voice, distribution models and supply chains
• Time management skills
• Organizational skills
• Sound, broad understanding of agriculture in the USA
• Ability to build relationships, trust, and credibility remotely
• Curiosity about understanding company challenges and opportunities
• Proactive in identifying actionable ways to support success in the US market
• Existing authorization to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

• Proven experience working with Agritech or agribusiness companies to grow their sales within the US
• Expertise in the animal health, dairy and/or livestock sectors
• At least 15 years’ experience, across a variety of disciplines including sales, marketing, business development, exports, and account management
• A good understanding and ability to interpret financial statements and customer data
• A solid understanding of business models and how to build and grow a successful business in the US
• A willingness to not only consult and advise, but to also 'roll your sleeves up' to do whatever it takes to solve problems and get things done for our customers
• A bias for action whilst still being a superb team player
• A finger on the pulse for what is current and innovative
• Ability to hustle to find information and build networks when you do not already have them
• Experience with digital transformation and AI optimization
• Small business experience
• An understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset
• Coaching experience
• International experience - either working for a US company in international markets, or supporting international business grow in the US

Responsibilities

• Proactively coach and assist New Zealand Agritech exporters research the US market and ideal customers
• Develop and execute business growth plans for New Zealand Agritech exporters
• Build key relationships and partnerships to be successful in the competitive US Agribusiness industry
• Be involved with leadership and C-level management in activities such as strengthening their US team
• Identify potential in-market partners
• Develop new channels
• Research growth opportunities
• Expand product offerings
• Manage a portfolio of 13-18 companies across the agribusiness spectrum, with a focus on Animal Health, Dairy, and Livestock
• Support New Zealand Agritech products and services importing into the United States

Benefits

• 4 weeks annual leave
• 13 public holidays
• 7 days sick leave
• Diverse and collaborative environment that supports lifelong learning opportunities
• High-trust and purpose-driven culture
• Unique opportunity to develop and access world class business networks
• Work with a talented, diverse, and international team
• Chance to participate in global projects to support professional growth
• Flexible working options
• Technology support
• Development opportunities
• Wrap around support so that you can bring your whole self to work
• Platinum health insurance plan (or cash compensation in lieu)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees