Principal Contract Advisor

NZDF is establishing a new centre-led contract and supplier relationship management function, and we’re looking for a highly experienced Principal Contract Advisor to help shape it from the ground up. This is a deep technical role focused on designing and embedding an enterprise-wide contract management and SRM framework across NZDF – shifting the organisation from a decentralised model to a consistent, best-practice approach.

About the role

You will:

• Lead the design and implementation of NZDF’s contract management and supplier relationship framework from scratch
• Drive consistency across business units through a centre-led, advisory-style model
• Act as a senior internal expert, influencing how contracts and suppliers are managed (without directly owning contracts)
• Provide assurance, guidance, and improvement advice across high-value, high-risk contracts
• Deliver training, workshops, and capability uplift across the organisation
• Partner with senior stakeholders to lift commercial maturity and performance

About you

We’re looking for a top-tier contract/SRM specialist who:

• Has 7+ years’ experience in complex contract or supplier management environments
• Has helped design or lead contract management frameworks or transformation programmes
• Understands both buyer and supplier perspectives (private sector experience highly valued)
• Is confident influencing senior stakeholders and driving behaviour change
• Knows what “good” looks like in contract management—even if they haven’t held this exact title before
• Is comfortable operating in a highly advisory, strategic capacity

Why NZDF?

This is a rare opportunity to build something new at enterprise scale, shaping how contract management is done across a major organisation with significant national impact.

If you're a commercially sharp contract leader who thrives in complex, influential environments, we’d like to hear from you.

Additional Information
• Pre-employment drug testing and NZDF Police Clearance are required

Please Note:
To be eligible for the required level of government security clearance with the NZ Defence Force, you must meet the following criteria:

Higher Level Security Clearance
• You must be a New Zealand citizen, or hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa
• You must have lived continuously for the last ten (10) years in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America
• You must have a ten (10) year background history that can be verified and assessed by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS)

Robert Walters endeavours to review all applications in a maximum of five working days. If you have not received correspondence within this timeframe please do not hesitate to contact Serena Daysh on +6444719734