Regional Operations Manager - South-East & East Asia

Are you an experienced operations and finance professional looking for a broader role?  Do you look for challenges proactively and then love to deliver?  If you want to build your career and contribute to the success of a leading NZ Government Agency, where you will have influence across a broad range of functions, then look no further. 

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the country's international business development agency. We help businesses grow internationally for the good of New Zealand. We provide our customers with support and services that help with strategy, performance improvement, go-to-market plans and building global networks for business development.   

The Regional Operations Manager ensures that NZTE delivers high quality operational management in the region, enabling our teams to stay focused on supporting New Zealand exporters achieve their growth ambitions. You will work closely with the Regional Director, working across our office managers in 9 countries, and play an important role in the Regional Leadership Team.  

This is a hands-on role with huge variety in scope and influence. Our SEEA team supports customers from Bangkok to Tokyo with strategic nous and our Regional Operations Manager plays a crucial role in achieving our goals and maintaining smooth operations across the dozen offices we have within the region. You will provide leadership in a range of finance, project management, human resources, operational facility management, governance, legal and stakeholder engagement activities. You will also provide a vital link back to colleagues in New Zealand - fostering a collaborative and consistent approach to operational management.   

You’ll lead a small team locally and have a huge influence across our geographically dispersed offices throughout the SEEA region, expertly coaching staff and actively supporting a vibrant organisational culture. A champion of best practice, you will influence decision making across the leadership team. 

This position is complex, and the right candidate will be able to operate at a high level and maintain line of sight across multiple moving parts while also seeing where they should go deep to support the overall success of the team. The ideal candidate will have an innate sense of order and efficiency and a passion for creating effective and simple systems to bring a geographically dispersed team together and united in the way they work.  

You will be enthusiastic, a strong communicator who can not only build rapport but develop strong and trusted relationships. This is a role that requires exceptional interpersonal skills, the ability to deftly manage sensitive consular activity, as well as work independently and strategically with the broader international NZTE team will be essential.

To be successful in this role you will have: 

• →Finance/accounting experience – as you will be overseeing the finance function of the region which includes budgeting, reporting and approvals
• →The ability to be the linkage point with New Zealand-based teams e.g., IT, Finance, People, Safety & Wellbeing.
• →The ability to be flexible and manage conflicting priorities
• →Previous exposure to operational business planning and implementation functions
• →A proactive nature and curiosity for AI and digital tools, applying these to lift productivity, simplify processes, and support continuous operational improvement.
• →A results-oriented approach with a strong ability to ‘get stuff done’ and turn your hand to many things - multi-tasking while not losing sight of the bigger picture.
• →A strong affinity with the NZTE Culture, you can find out more about our values here

This is an excellent opportunity to build your career in an international organisation. The depth, breadth and scope for this role is unique and you will play a critical role in the SEEA region’s success, including being a key leader of the organisation’s awesome culture. 

We are an ambitious team who expect greatness of ourselves. Our environment encourages experimentation and constant learning, intellectual challenge and absolute honesty. We keep promises, honour commitments and we celebrate the mana (strength and dignity) of each other as being equal to or greater than our own.  We’re a public service organisation that deeply cares for our team and support them with flexible working options, technology, development opportunities and wrap around support so that you can bring your whole self to work whether that’s virtually and physically. 

If you are now keen to broaden your experience within a dynamic region and a global organisation, please check out the position description: Regional Operations Manager PD and apply now with your resume and cover letter.  

Applications close at 11.59pm SGT, Sunday 28 June 2026

You must have the right to work in Singapore with a passion for New Zealand.  You need to have a high level of written and spoken English language skills

Please note:

•  NZTE operates a hybrid working environment and there will be some travel required in this role.
• There are potential tax impacts for New Zealand tax residents moving overseas on government service, learn more here:  NZ GSR 

Learn more about NZTE culture here: https://youtu.be/II9J2Cf7rmY 

At New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) we are a passionate people-focused team and an equal opportunity employer. We seek diversity of thought; welcoming and encouraging you to apply regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurodiversity, or disability. We offer a great work/life balance offering flexibility, health and wellbeing guidance, manaakitanga, career growth, amazing international connections, and a fantastic culture!

If we need to make specific accommodations in any part of the interview process, please note this in your application or discuss with the Talent Acquisition Partner.