Partnerships Manager

Partnerships Manager – New Zealand Vegetarian Society (NZVS)

Part-time (20 hours per week) | Epsom, Auckland (with some flexibility to work from home)

The New Zealand Vegetarian Society (NZVS) exists to promote vegetarianism (including veganism), reduce animal suffering, improve human health, and protect the environment. A key pillar of our work is our Vegetarian Approved and Vegan Certified trademark programmes, which help consumers identify genuine vegetarian and vegan products while supporting businesses that uphold ethical and sustainable standards.

We are seeking a Partnerships Manager to lead the strategic growth and credibility of these programmes through business development, partnership management, and certification oversight.

About the Role

This role is responsible for driving sales, building strong industry relationships, and ensuring the integrity of our certification processes. You’ll work closely with a wide range of certified partners, including some of New Zealand’s biggest brands in the plant-based space. You will be the key outward-facing representative for our trademark programmes and play an essential role in the organisation’s financial sustainability and public impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a proactive sales and partnership strategy to expand certification uptake and revenue.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities through market research, networking, and industry events.
• Manage the sales pipeline from lead generation and proposals through to onboarding new partners.
• Report on pipeline, conversions, and revenue projections to support informed decision‑making.
• Analyse sales data to identify trends and inform strategic priorities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with certified partners and key industry stakeholders.
• Represent NZVS at trade events and expos to raise visibility of the certification programmes.
• Work with marketing to promote certified companies and joint campaigns.
• Seek sponsorships, collaborations, and cross‑promotional opportunities.
• Provide content for the quarterly magazine to showcase certified partners and programme impact.
• Lead the assessment and approval of products and ingredients to ensure they meet Vegetarian Approved and Vegan Certified standards.
• Ensure certification decisions are consistent, evidence‑based, and credible.
• Stay up to date with regulatory and industry developments in food labelling, ingredient sourcing, allergens, ethical production, and vegetarian / vegan standards.
• Improve certification documentation and assessment processes.
• Conduct site inspections of certified companies as required.
• Provide regular reporting to the Executive Committee on sales performance, client retention, pipeline activity, and certification outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records in Insightly CRM and other systems.
• Complete timesheets and internal reporting requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems and procedures.

About You

We are looking for someone who shares our vision for a kinder, healthier, and more sustainable future. You will bring :

How to Apply

Please apply with your CV and a cover letter explaining why you are suited to this role and your interest in supporting the vegetarian and vegan community in Aotearoa. Applications close on 9th December.

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