Principal Contract Advisor

The New Zealand Defence Force is establishing a new centre-led Contract and Supplier Relationship Management function, and we're looking for an experienced Principal Contract Advisor to help build it from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to influence how one of New Zealand's largest and most complex organisations manages its commercial contracts and strategic suppliers. Rather than owning contracts, you'll provide expert advice, build capability, and help embed best-practise

About the Role

Working in a centre-led advisory function, you'll partner with business units across NZDF to strengthen commercial capability, improve governance, and maximise value from supplier relationships.

Key responsibilities include:

• Designing and implementing NZDF's enterprise-wide Contract Management and Supplier Relationship Management framework.
• Coaching and mentoring contract owners to strengthen commercial capability.
• Providing expert advice on complex negotiations, contract reviews, variations, disputes, and commercial risk.
• Developing practical tools, templates, and frameworks that improve contract management consistency.
• Using commercial analysis and supplier performance data to identify risks, opportunities, and value improvements.
• Establishing governance frameworks, KPIs, SLAs, and supplier performance processes.
• Delivering training and influencing behavioural change across the organisation.

About You

You're a commercially astute advisor who enjoys helping others achieve better commercial outcomes. You combine strong commercial judgement with deep expertise in contract management, supplier relationship management, commercial negotiations, and governance.

You're equally comfortable rolling up your sleeves to solve complex contractual challenges as you are coaching others to build their capability. You influence through expertise and relationships rather than authority and are known as a trusted advisor who leaves teams more confident and self-sufficient.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience in complex contract management, supplier relationship management, procurement, or commercial environments.
• Strong legal and contractual knowledge, with the ability to provide practical, risk-based advice.
• Experience supporting high-value, high-risk contracts and strategic supplier relationships.
• A proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organisational capability.
• Experience designing or improving contract management frameworks or commercial governance models.

Why NZDF?

This is an opportunity to build something that will have a lasting impact across a nationally significant organisation. You'll shape a new enterprise-wide function, influence commercial best practice, and help lift contract and supplier management capability across NZDF.

Additional Information

Pre-employment drug testing and an NZDF Police Clearance are required.

To be eligible for the required Government security clearance, you must:

• Be a New Zealand citizen, or hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa.
• Have lived continuously for the last 10 years in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
• Be able to provide a 10-year background history that can be verified 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