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Introduction:

Business Hawkes Bay is the regional economic development agency made up of specialist business consultants, with support from the local councils.  Business Hawkes Bay has a strategy of planned action to deliver long term improvements to the Hawkes Bay economy. 

Part of this strategy is to build upon existing capability in food processing and value added food production through facilitating the development of organisations with an interest in business improvement.  This development will evolve via the opportunities and resources within the wider Hawkes Bay Food Network.  The aim of the Hawkes Bay Food Cluster strategy is to increase the manufacture,  marketing, and sales of Hawkes Bay food products for the NZ and overseas consumer markets.

Position Purpose:

The Hawkes Bay Food Network Facilitator will be critical to the success of this collaborative network.

The Facilitator will be the over-arching conduit for the commercialisation of activities across the Hawkes Bay Food sector. Key functions of this role will include identifying and assessing food company requirements andlinking them to the relevant resources both technical and /or commercial within the existing food network, and potentially through to the New Zealand Food Innovation Network. The role will dovetail into the existing business resources within the Hawke’s Bay Food Network and NZFIN and utilise the existing Business Hawke’s Bay resources such as the Regional Business Partnership, NZTE, MSI and China Supply Chain project.The role will also contribute to the selection of potential food companies for the proposed High Performance Working Initiative project within the Hawkes Bay food sector.

Key Result Areas:

 

i.            Connect businesses to specialist food industry expertise in order to develop new or improved, commercially viable value added food products.         ii.            Undertake project scoping, and facilitate access to available resources and capability, for projects within the HB Food network, including those identified through broader regional strategies, e.g. waste stream management, raw material utilisation, path to market.       iii.            Alignment and collaboration with the evolving New Zealand Food Innovation (NZFI) network national structure including integration with the NZFI lower North Island business development manager based in the Hawkes Bay region.       iv.            Work with the High Performance Working Initiative (HWPI) consultant to assist with identification of HB companies and projects with potential to generate added value food production and sales opportunities.         v.            Work with Business Hawke’s Bay and the Food Network to maximise project outcomes with selected companies.       vi.            Contribute where possible to the promotion of Hawke’s Bay as a premium food producing region.

 

 

Person Specification:

 

Potential applicants will preferably have experience in the following:

• Proven experience in the food and beverage manufacturing, marketing and commercialisation environment or other suitable commercial business experience
• Knowledge around scale up, product improvement, and preferably food compliance
• The ability to develop relationships and work successfully with the relevant food-related organisations and individuals in Hawkes Bay
• Capable of communicating with technical, production, and marketing personnel
• Proven experience in effectively managing multiple clients and projects
• Passion and drive to be part of an exciting wider project environment
• Full drivers licence and their own vehicle (mileage will be claimable)

 

 

Note: 

This position will be fixed term for 12 months with a possible extension beyond this period.

The position will be based at Business Hawkes Bay in Hastings.