Woolworths

Livestock Procurement & Abattoir Optimisation Manager 

• Lead the continual supply and procurement of Beef, Lamb, and Pork for our stores.

• Develop and lead a team of livestock buyers across the North and South Islands.

• Work with livestock traders and abattoir partners to optimise yield and cost.

• Based at our Favona Road support office in Auckland.

Endless possibilities with Woolworths Group

We’re a proud part of the Woolworths Group - a team of 200,000+ bright minds across Australia and New Zealand, connected by a shared Purpose to create better experiences together for a better tomorrow. Here in New Zealand, our local team of over 18,000 serves more than 3 million customers every week.

As part of this large and diverse organisation, you’ll be supported and empowered to explore new ideas, make brave commitments and innovate better ways to meet the food and everyday needs of our customers. Backed by a culture of genuine care, a flexible approach to work and the support to grow your career and make a meaningful impact, the possibilities for what we can achieve together are endless.

About the Role | Mō te Tūranga

As the Livestock & Abattoir Optimisation Manager, you will focus on the continual supply of our livestock demand, managing all aspects across Beef, Lamb and Pork procurement. You will be a key liaison with our livestock traders and abattoir partners, leading negotiations to optimise yield, cost, and consistency. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing a team of Livestock Managers to deliver to demand and specification.

• Setting weekly livestock schedules for the North & South Islands.

• Driving the delivery of financial KPIs, including livestock numbers, yields, pricing, and profit.

• Developing and implementing a continuous "paddock to plate" supply chain strategy.

• Driving optimisation through our abattoirs.

• Collaborating with cross-functional teams including Category, Operations, and Logistics.

About You | Mōu

You are a reputable leader and influencer with a passion for quality product, cost optimisation, and the farming community. You possess strong commercial acumen and a demonstrated ability to think strategically and develop winning supply strategies. You will have:

• Proven experience within the livestock and/or abattoir industry.

• A strong background in negotiation and influencing with internal and external stakeholders.

• A reputation as an outstanding leader with proven experience in coaching and developing a high-performing team.

• Strong knowledge of the meat sector, including livestock buying and abattoirs.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage diverse, cross-functional relationships.

What you’ll experience

Everything we do is driven by a culture of care for our team, customers, and community.

• We create a thriving team experience through a culture of belonging that champions safety and wellbeing for our people and partners.

• We’re a team-first organisation. We’ll equip you with the necessary training for success in your role, and provide continuous career development and learning opportunities.

• We offer competitive remuneration and access to a number of employee benefits.

• A commitment to flexibility through a hybrid working model which combines time spent at a support office or hub and time working from home, supporting both in-person connection and balancing the flexibility that remote working provides for our teams

• We prioritise sustainability, striving to contribute to a greener, better future. Check out our most recent Sustainability Report to find out how we do it.

• A range of programs to help you prioritise and manage your wellbeing, including a competitive leave policy and 24/7 access to the Sonder app.

Everyone belongs at Woolworths Group

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are key to realising our purpose of better together for a better tomorrow. We recognise the value our team’s diversity brings to our business, customers, and communities and that teams with diverse experiences and backgrounds enrich our group and are better able to innovate and solve problems. As one of the largest employers in Australia and New Zealand, we aim to create a truly inclusive workplace where everyone feels that they belong, can be their best selves, and reach their full potential.

We encourage all candidates to apply; please let us know in your application if we can support you with any adjustments in the hiring process.

Platinum Tier Employer - Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQ+ inclusion

Employer of Choice for Gender Equality - Workplace Gender Equality Agency.