Our Co-operative
Fonterra’s strength is in the collective | Te Mātāpuna toa takitini
We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Since our beginnings, collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world. We're committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved here in New Zealand and around the world.
As part of the Fonterra Co-op, you'll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk.
When you join Fonterra, you'll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.
About the opportunity | Te whiwhinga mahi
As the General Manager of Internal Audit, you’ll be a trusted advisor and valued partner, helping our Co-op achieve its strategic goals. Reporting to the Director of Governance, Risk, and Audit (Chief Internal Auditor), you’ll lead a team that delivers reliable, objective assurance through operational excellence and thoughtful strategic support. By embracing global processes and data, you’ll ensure our practices and controls are aligned with our risk management framework, safeguarding the business through insights and effective internal controls.
In addition to developing and executing the annual Internal Audit plan—focusing on all critical risk areas you’ll create an environment where your team can thrive and deliver meaningful results. Your leadership and customer-centric approach will ensure audits are completed to the highest standards, delivering meaningful insights and results on time. You’ll also partner closely with external audit teams, aligning with global best practices to ensure smooth and integrated audit processes.
With a focus on continuous improvement, you will inspire positive change across the team and business, enhancing the Internal Audit brand within our Co-op. As a thought leader in risk management and internal controls, you’ll actively support the professional growth of your team, through coaching, training, and providing opportunities for learning and development. As a senior and strategic business partner, you’ll collaborate with senior leaders, offering valuable insights, mitigating risks, and ensuring we continue to operate with integrity and excellence.
About you | Ko wai koe
With a recognised tertiary qualification and relevant professional certification, you bring significant experience from a commercial or professional services environment, ideally within internal audit. Your technical expertise in business processes, risk-based auditing, internal controls, and enterprise risk management help you identify key strategic risks and craft audit plans that drive real value. Your natural curiosity and discovery mindset empower you to apply best practices in complex business environments.
As a people focused leader, you create an environment of collaboration, enabling your team to succeed through effective coaching and thoughtful delegation. You’re skilled at managing resources and building a customer-oriented audit function that fosters connection and operates at the highest level.
Relationship management is at the heart of this role, and you’ll build partnerships with stakeholders at all levels, aligning everyone to our shared strategy and goals. With your excellent communication skills and keen eye for detail, you’ll present audit findings clearly and with confidence. Your commitment to your own professional development keeps you informed of industry trends and emerging best practices, ensuring you bring fresh insights to the team.
Are you excited about this opportunity but may only meet some requirements?
At Fonterra, we are committed to building a diverse workplace and, therefore, open to looking at applicants with excellent transferable skills. If that's you, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or one of our other opportunities.
Or join our Talent Community to be notified about new and relevant job opportunities.
The benefits of life at Fonterra | Te ora i Te Mātāpuna
Our people and what they bring to our Co-op shape our success. We have a collaborative culture, inspiring leaders, and passionate people, making Fonterra a great place to work. We also offer competitive remuneration and a range of benefits, regardless of your role or location.
Our story | Ō mātou kōrero
Being part of Fonterra means being part of a unique history, realising the potential of dairy for generations to come, and solving for a better future together.
- Whanaungatanga, our Co-operative spirit, guides a common strength and purpose.
- Manaakitanga is how we care for all our people at the heart of what we do.
- Kaitiakitanga ensures we care for the land, farming in a way that regenerates our farms and environment for future generations.
- Whakaohooho inspires us all with excellent career development opportunities, benefits, flexibility, and balance to suit everyone's lifestyles and choices.
Our Co-operative is a place where everyone can be themselves, feel empowered to do their best, and are empowered to create goodness for generations.
Sound good to you? Come join our whānau and let’s solve for better, together. You, me, us together. Tᾱtou tᾱtou.