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Head of Operational Risk

General Information

Date Published
31-Mar-2026
Advertising Ends
17-Apr-2026
ID#
15337
Role Type
Accounting & Commercial
Work Type
Permanent Full-Time
Workplace Type
On-site
Country
New Zealand
Location
Auckland

Position Description

Our Co-operative
Ata whakaarohia tō āpōpō | Imagine Tomorrow with Us
At Fonterra, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves. 

Whether you're early in your career or ready for your next step, Fonterra offers a unique opportunity to grow with a global dairy co-operative that values care, collaboration, and contribution. 

Owned by New Zealand dairy farmers and supported by a dedicated team, we are all working together to create a better future. Imagine tomorrow with us, where your career can grow, and you can create positive change.

He kupu mō mātou | About us
Fonterra is a global dairy co operative owned by New Zealand farming families. Our operations span complex manufacturing, processing, and logistics networks, supplying nutrition to millions of people worldwide.

Within Fonterra, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) oversees asset‑intensive, high‑hazard operations that require disciplined operational risk management. Effective risk control and resilience are critical to protecting people, product, communities, and performance.

Mō tēnei tūranga | About the Opportunity
As Head of Operational Risk, you will own a cross-enterprise view of operational risk management through its framework and expectations, ensuring material risks are identified, visible, and control integrity is actively governed across the business.

This senior role operates across a complex milk collection, manufacturing and logistics network and connects multiple operational risk pillars, including health, safety and wellbeing, food safety and quality, environmental management, engineering and asset risk, and energy to name a few.  Your work enables operational leaders to then make informed trade‑offs while overseeing strong risk-control integrity.

A few areas of focus will be to:
  • Set and maintain the COO operational risk management framework, including common language, governance rhythms, appetite tolerances alongside escalation logics
  • Define clear expectations for how operational risks are collectively identified, assessed, treated, monitored, and reported across manufacturing sites and traditional risk functions
  • Establish and govern material risk scenarios, critical control tests, and reporting of treatment plans enabling visible leadership accountabilities
  • Translate and mature risk appetites into practical guiderails where key risk indicators signal real operational decision making
  • Lift consistency and maturity of collective operational risk practices while leveraging existing specialist systems and expertise
This role reports to the General Manager, Risk and reports into the Office of the CFO while being based in Auckland.   

Mōu | About You
You bring credibility with senior operational leaders, are comfortable working across traditional risk functions, and can simplify complexity into practical, repeatable ways of working.

The ideal candidate will have:
  • 10+ years’ experience competently navigating the operational risk landscape. This may include domains including process safety or asset intensive, high hazard environments (e.g. scaled manufacturing, industrial/chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, energy, oil & gas, mining, or similar high reliability environments) 
  • Proven experience in both designing and embedding risk frameworks for operational organisations what are both technically complex and account for multi site operations within a single legal entity
  • Strong capability in material risk scenario management and critical control approaches, including treatment planning and assurance visibility
  • A track record of translating enterprise level risk appetite statements into clear operational guardrails and key risk indicators alongside proportional business continuity and escalation pathways
  • Proven ability to lead and influence other risk functions to harmonise risk practices at scale, ensuring operational consistency across pillars while not diluting critical functional needs.
  • A relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. engineering, process safety, operations management, or similar), with exposure to recognised risk standards such as ISO 31000 or ISO 22301, or TÜV Rheinland / SÜD certification considered as advantageous.

Ngā Aura | Our Values 
At Fonterra, our values of Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts, are for everyone – no matter your background, identify or experience. These values guide us in delivering exceptional outcomes for our farmers, customers, communities, and each other. Discover how your values align with ours by taking our Values Quiz

Tā mātou oati | Our Commitment to You 
We care for our people globally. Our comprehensive benefits support your well-being, development, and work-life balance:
  • Fair and equitable pay
  • Health and well-being programs (medical, mental health support)
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Career growth support
  • Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
  • Employee recognition
  • Support for community involvement and cultural connection
To learn more, visit Fonterra Careers

Ngā Mahi | A Career of Opportunities
At Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.

Tātou Tātou | Join Us
Does this sound good to you? Come join our whānau - bring your whole self, and let's solve for better together. 

You, me, us together, Tātou, tātou.

He Wāhi mō te Katoa | Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion.
Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation. 

We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions). 

If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best. Tātou, tātou. 

Applications close at midnight on 17 April 2026.