New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Commercial Business Advisor – Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Flexible hybrid working environment, 3 days office based
Progressive wellbeing culture, where diversity & learning is valued to support you to be your best self
Partner with innovative Kiwi entrepreneurs who are making their mark in the Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods sectors
Are you looking for exciting and varied work? Use your know-how and know-who to help New Zealand businesses grow bigger, better, faster in the United Kingdom.
The role is based in central London
Who we are:
NZTE is New Zealand's international business development agency, but we are not like your traditional trade agency. Our people are highly commercially savvy, connected people who know their sector intimately. We get to work with some of New Zealand's most exciting companies, aiming to grow them by getting alongside them throughout their export journey.
What you will be doing:
Based in our central London office, we're looking for a stakeholder-savvy commercial adviser to provide business planning and strategic insight to a diverse portfolio of exciting exporters across the Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods sectors, with a primary focus on Food & Beverage. In this role, you will proactively partner with New Zealand companies to develop and execute their go-to-market plans across UK retail, wholesale, food service and on-premise channels. This will include coaching leadership teams to identify the right product niche and market approach, uncovering opportunities to establish the best route-to-market strategy, and providing expert advice to maximise their market impact.
Well versed in the UK Food & Beverage and Consumer Goods landscape (and ideally Ireland) you will use your commercial know-how to evaluate exporters' strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, and support them with market entry and growth strategies. Your role is all about working with leadership teams to strategise and execute exciting new channels to market, and to grow a range of verticals that are landing and expanding in market. You'll also play a meaningful part in delivering a strategic Food & Beverage priority linked to the NZ–UK Free Trade Agreement.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
You will also work closely with your peers, internal support teams and key stakeholders on initiatives that drive customer growth. Your consultative approach, ability to activate your networks and business credibility will be highly valued, as will your willingness to capture all interactions in our customer relationship management system and identify future market trends. Your guidance will enable the delivery of high-impact in-market projects, supporting our customers' growth objectives and providing insights that reduce barriers to entry for New Zealand exporters.
What you will need to be successful:
With commercial smarts and the know-how to manage a portfolio of companies, you'll play a key role in evaluating their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities and supporting them with market entry and growth strategies. You'll bring:
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to work with large and complex trading organisations as well as smaller, high-growth exporters.
- A solid understanding of market entry and route-to-market strategies across UK retail, wholesale, food service and on-premise channels.
- Sector knowledge across Food & Beverage (and ideally Consumer Goods), including an awareness of the regulatory context relevant to Food & Beverage customers.
- Keen business acumen, experience working alongside CEOs, and a willingness to 'roll your sleeves up'.
- Superior communication, business consulting and relationship management skills, with the ability to build rapport quickly.
- Knowledge of the UK commercial landscape and a strong sense for doing business in the United Kingdom.
- An enthusiastic, 'can-do' attitude, proactive nature, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in virtual teams across sectors.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Nice to have (advantageous, not essential):
- Existing buyer connections within UK grocery, food service or wholesale networks.
- Marketing or consumer-market understanding, and knowledge of brand positioning.
- Experience across both the UK and Irish markets.
Please note: this role is known internally as a Business Development Manager.
Why you will love working here:
We provide an inclusive and stimulating organisational culture where you can bring your whole self to work. You will be supported in your professional growth and be provided with learning and development opportunities to develop your expertise and knowledge with a dedicated L&D budget.
NZTE offers flexible working arrangements, a fun and nurturing environment with a unique opportunity to develop and access world-class business networks and work with a talented, diverse international team.
What's next:
If this role sounds perfect for you and you believe you have what it takes to really make it your own, then we want to hear from you!
Please view the position description here, for more details and apply now with your resume and cover letter.
You must have the right to work in the United Kingdom to be eligible for this role.
This vacancy closes on 11:59pm GMT, Tuesday 8 September.
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.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location