Milk Supply Manager - Whanganui Region

About the Company

Open Country Dairy is a proudly New Zealand-owned dairy processor with a strong reputation for commercial thinking, farmer partnerships, and innovation. They work closely with supplier farmers to deliver sustainable outcomes, consistent performance, and long-term value across the dairy supply chain.

About the Role

As Milk Supply Manager, you will be responsible for sourcing, retaining, and supporting supplier farmers across the Whanganui region. This is a highly autonomous, on-farm role where relationships, credibility, and commercial judgement are critical.

You will act as a key point of contact for supplier farmers, working alongside them to understand their businesses, support performance, and represent Open Country Dairy’s milk pricing, strategy, and value proposition.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with supplier farmers

• Converting warm leads and proactively sourcing new supplier farms

• Acting as a commercial partner to farmers, understanding their drivers, challenges, and goals

• Communicating milk pricing, contracts, and company strategy clearly and confidently

• Managing supplier contracts and maintaining accurate records in CRM systems

• Forecasting milk supply volumes and managing seasonal and production variability

• Supporting milk quality, sustainability, and environmental objectives alongside internal teams

• Regular travel for on-farm visits and stakeholder engagement

About You

We are looking for someone who is comfortable on-farm, confident in conversation, and able to build rapport with a wide range of people in the rural community.

You will bring:

• A down-to-earth, approachable style that resonates with farmers

• Proven experience in relationship management, sales, or negotiation-focused roles

• Strong resilience and the ability to manage direct, robust conversations

• A solid understanding of dairy farming or the wider agricultural sector

• Experience in rural banking, agribusiness, agricultural services, or similar (highly regarded)

• The ability to work independently and manage your own territory

• Sound commercial judgement, balanced with empathy and integrity

• Confidence using CRM systems and managing administrative requirements

Existing rural networks and a genuine understanding of how farmers think and operate will be highly valued.

Benefits & Opportunity

• Competitive salary package

• Company vehicle

• Strong onboarding and internal support

• High level of autonomy and trust

• A role with influence, variety, and long-term career opportunity

If you are motivated by relationships, and making a genuine difference on farm, we would love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Recruitment Partner, Sharyn, on 027 701 9585

To be considered for this position, applicants must have full working rights in New Zealand (NZ Citizen or Permanent Resident).

Position Description