Would you like to personally lead the product development at Oceania’s state of the art and most advanced Nutritionals manufacturing plant? Open Country Dairy is New Zealand’s largest independent dairy processor and a major player in the global dairy trade. From humble beginnings, we’ve grown into a world-class business driven by passionate, innovative people. Join us and be part of a fantastic New Zealand success story. We are seeking an experienced Product Manager to join our Innovation team. This newly created role reports to the GM Innovation and offers a high level of autonomy, minimal bureaucracy, and significant responsibility. You’ll have the opportunity to shape product development in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while enjoying personal and technical growth. This role will be based in our head office in Auckland and would involve domestic and international travel. What you’ll do Lead and manage New Product Development (NPD) initiatives from concept to delivery through the stage-gate process. Collaborate with customers’ R&D teams to understand specifications and application performance. Research market trends, benchmark competitor products, and identify growth opportunities. Create and manage technical and marketing specifications for finished products and ingredients. Oversee trial planning, execution, and documentation. Drive change management and continuous improvement initiatives. Liaise with external labs to validate product performance and set up new test methods. Provide technical support for customer issues and compliance audits. Support FSQ and compliance teams on all internal and external audits as required. Support finance and operations teams with product costing and manufacturing targets. About You Master’s or B.Tech in Food Science, Food Technology, Dairy Science, or related discipline. 5–10 years’ experience in the dairy industry, ideally with nutritional products and milk powders. Knowledge of nutritional products and milk powders; familiarity with other dairy products (cheese, whey protein, butter, AMF) is an advantage Strong understanding of CODEX, FSANZ, and NZ dairy export regulations. Proven success in product innovation and stakeholder management. Commercial acumen, analytical skills, and problem-solving ability. Self-motivated, adaptable, and able to thrive in an agile environment. If you think you have the talent and are ready to step into a fast- paced environment, eager to make your mark and shine, click "Apply" now. Applications close 22nd December 2025. Applicants must have legal rights to work in New Zealand.