At Fonterra Te Mātāpuna, we’re a New Zealand Co-operative powered by people. From engineers and scientists to technicians, operators, analysts, graduates and apprentices, our people come together to help create goodness for generations.
A career with us is about more than just a job. It’s an opportunity to be part of a purpose-driven organisation that connects New Zealand’s dairy industry with communities around the world. Every day, our people help solve real-world challenges, drive innovation, and contribute to producing high-quality nutrition enjoyed by millions.
Inspired by the values of Aotearoa New Zealand and the connection between people, land and communities, we’re committed to creating a workplace where people can thrive, grow and make a meaningful impact.
Whether you’re just starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you’ll find opportunities to learn, develop and explore different pathways across a diverse range of disciplines. From engineering, manufacturing, sustainability and food science to digital technology, supply chain, finance and corporate functions, there are countless ways to contribute and grow.
At Fonterra, you’ll work alongside talented people, industry partners, researchers, educators and innovators who are shaping the future of dairy. You’ll gain exposure to world-class operations, cutting-edge technology and meaningful projects that make a difference both locally and globally.
Imagine a place where you belong. A place where your ideas are valued, your development is supported, and your work contributes to something bigger than yourself.
When you join Fonterra, you’re opening yourself up to a career full of possibilities.
Imagine Tomorrow. Āta whakaarohia tō āpōpō.
You, me, us together. Tātou Tātou.
Early Careers
Find your future flavour at Fonterra Te Mātāpuna – where your skills and ambitions can thrive. Every day, we’re shaping what’s next to create a better tomorrow for our land, our people, and the careers of those who join us.
With hundreds of opportunities across diverse fields, imagine the possibilities your tomorrow could hold here.
Your career starts here! Explore career pathways, hear from our people, and take the first step towards shaping your future with us. Whatever your interest or passion is, we have a range of different early career opportunities, including graduate programmes, internships and apprenticeships.
Through real-world experience, structured rotations, and dedicated mentorship, you’ll build the technical expertise, commercial acumen, and leadership capability needed to thrive in a fast-moving global co-operative.
Specialist Streams
Build deep expertise in Engineering, Finance, Agribusiness, or Data/AI through four rotations over two years.
You’ll strengthen your technical capability, gain exposure across the wider business, and complete a co-designed rotation that sets you up for your permanent role — all while developing the leadership skills to help you thrive.
Engineering, Finance, Agribusiness, Data/AI
Sales & Trading Stream
Step into the commercial heart of our co-operative with placements across Global Ingredients and Foodservice.
You’ll gain hands-on experience in areas like portfolio planning, sales operations, commodity risk and trading, and customer engagement, while developing strong commercial and leadership capability — with a guaranteed first role at the end of the programme.
Step into our Technical stream, where curious minds grow into future technical leaders.
Fast-track your technical career by completing your Masters of Dairy Science and Technology in Year 1, combining advanced study with real on-site experience. In Year 2, you’ll complete two six-month rotations, including one in Operations, building deep technical expertise and practical capability to help shape the future of dairy.
As a Summer Intern at Fonterra Te Mātāpuna you can put your university learning into practice.
Through hands‑on, meaningful work while gaining real experience — all while being supported to grow, develop and thrive.
Whether you’re solving practical challenges, working alongside our farmers, or contributing to world‑class innovation, an internship at Fonterra is your opportunity to start making something of your career.
Summer Internship
Our Summer internship programme is designed to give you a hands-on experience of Fonterra.
Our summer internship includes opportunities in Supply Chain, Accounting & Finance, IT & Data, Technical Engineering and Sustainability.
Kickstart your Fonterra career with our R&D Summer Internship Programme. Use your university knowledge and gain first-hand experience with real R&D projects at our world class research centre in Palmerston North.
Our Research & Development Internship runs for up to 14 weeks over the summer. You’ll take ownership of your project and get to work with industry leaders as you get to solve practical problems using your science related knowledge.
We are looking for STEM students studying towards a bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemical and process engineering, chemical and materials engineering, food engineering, chemistry, physics, food technology, food science and dairy science.
Agribusiness Internship
Our Agribusiness Summer Internship is designed to give you hands-on experience of Farm Source.
The programme will see you connecting with our farmers in store, on farm and challenging your skills in project management. This programme offers unique exposure to the agribusiness sector across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Applications will reopen later this year. Click below to register your interest.
Learning, developing, growing and thriving while immersing yourself in a place with a proud history, and a truly exciting future. Work for, get paid by, and learn from, an employer who supports you through your apprenticeship.
As an apprentice, you work for, get paid by, and learn from an employer who supports you through your apprenticeship to gain a Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in your chosen apprenticeship area.
Mechanical
Gain a NZ Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Maintenance focus).
Work in a varied role across multiple aspects of maintenance engineering while qualifying and building towards a role as a Fitter or Maintenance Technician.
Heavy Automotive
Gain a NZ Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering (Diesel/Auto Electrical focus) and your Class 5 License.
Form part of the Fleet Services Workshop where we maintain and service dairy milk tankers across the season.
Electrical
Gain a NZ Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Industrial focus) and a full practicing license
Work closely with our qualified Electricians taking an Industrial focus to build your electrical engineering capability to becoming a licensed NZ electrician.
Te Mātāpuna toa takitini. At Fonterra, our strength lies in our collective team of 18,000 employees worldwide. Joining us means becoming part of a unique history and contributing to the dairy industry’s future for generations. Your career here is boundless, allowing you to grow, develop skills, share knowledge, and pursue various career paths aligned with your interests.
Early Careers are pivotal in fulfilling our co–operative’s long-term goals, bringing innovation, fresh ideas, and diversity to sustain our legacy for generations to come. You’ll find long-term career prospects, increased earning potential, and international opportunities, all while contributing to solutions for tomorrow’s challenges. Join us and be a part of our promising journey.
You, me, us together Tātou, tātou.
Our Culture
Why Join Us?
Together, we can create goodness for generations
At Fonterra Te Mātāpuna, when you are part of this, you’re part of us.
We are deeply connected to the land and the life that springs forward from it, to each other, and to generations of goodness.
For us, tomorrow is not just another day – it’s an opportunity to make our vision real.
We are inspired to be better every day. To set the standard for excellence in the dairy industry, all while solving for a sustainable future.
Our people are at the heart of our success
Like all organisations, we’re on a journey. A journey that is shaped by our history, the future we want to lead into, our purpose and our values.
Most importantly, our journey is shaped by our people and what they bring to our Co-op. We have a pure, natural product with unlimited potential and a team of diverse individuals that can achieve anything.
Key to this is creating an environment where we can bring our best and true selves to work every day.
Fonterra’s Values guide how we work, make decisions, and support our farmers, customers, communities, and each other.
Good Together – We achieve more through teamwork, collaboration, and caring for one another. We prioritise safety, collaboration, and empathy.
Better Every Day – We embrace change, continuously learn, and look for ways to improve. We prioritise curiosity, innovation, and boldness.
Every Drop Counts – We focus on delivering results with passion and integrity, ensuring every effort adds value. We prioritise integrity, focus, and impact.
Together, these values help us create goodness for generations and shape the culture of Fonterra every day
This fun and interactive quiz will help you explore and learn about our values and unlock further understanding of your own values and how we align. Jump in to discover if Fonterra is the right fit for you! This should take no longer than 5 minutes. At the end, you’ll receive some key insights about how we align and what is important to us in our work.
We provide competitive compensation and a variety of perks, regardless of your role or location.
Flexibility
We prioritise flexibility, enabling you to balance work and personal life to ensure the job gets done while being there for life’s important moments.
Career Opportunities
Joining Fonterra means embarking on a career, not just securing a job. With a global presence, endless opportunities await you.
Wellbeing
We are committed to your overall health and wellness, fostering a better you. Our annual calendar features fantastic wellbeing events, including those focused on mental health, fitness/nutrition, and financial wellness. We also offer substantial discounts on wellbeing products.
Learning & Study Assistance
No matter your role, we encourage continuous learning and skill development, providing support to enhance your abilities.
Discounted Insurance
We extend various insurance discounts based on your employment type and location.
Leave Options
We offer diverse leave options to accommodate everyone, regardless of your life stage. This includes opportunities to purchase extra leave, enhanced parental leave benefits, and long service leave.
Our vision is to be the source of the world’s most valued dairy – From New Zealand farms to global customers, we turn milk into dairy through innovation and expertise.
As a global B2B dairy provider, we go to market through our global Ingredients brand NZMP and global Foodservice brand Anchor Food Professionals.
Anchor Food Professionals™
Anchor Food Professionals create high-quality dairy products designed for foodservice businesses – taking our New Zealand dairy expertise to kitchens and bakeries all around the world.
NZMP™
NZMP is Fonterra’s business-to-business global dairy ingredients and solutions brand. Trusted globally, NZMP ingredients are sold in over 100 countries and we’re one of the largest dairy exporters in the world.
Nutiani™
Nutiani is Fonterra’s business-to-business wellbeing nutrition brand. Nutiani offers science-backed ingredients and end-to-end solutions to support longer, more fulfilling, and healthier lives.
Farm Source™
Providing solutions and support to farmers, helping them to have sustainable businesses for generations to come.
At Fonterra Te Mātāpuna, we’re building a future of inclusion by embedding support across every part of our Co-operative.
Whether you identify with one of our DEI communities or want to be an ally, we’re here to help you thrive.
We celebrate the diversity of our people. Across ethnicity, gender, age, ability, neurotype, culture, and belief.
Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in how we hire, how we lead, and how we show up every day.
LGBTTQIAP+
Fonterra Pride is a vibrant, inclusive space for our LGBTTQIAP+ whānau and allies. More than just a community, it’s a platform for learning, connection, and action, designed to help us grow as individuals and as a Co-op.
Māori
At Fonterra, we are proud to support our tangata whenua. We recognise the depth of knowledge, culture, and leadership Māori bring to our Co-operative, and we’re committed to creating meaningful opportunities for Māori to thrive.
Pasifika
We celebrate the vibrant cultures and contributions of our tangata Pasifika. At Fonterra, we’re committed to creating a workplace where Pasifika employees feel seen, supported, and set up to succeed.
Disability & Neurodiversity Support
At Fonterra, we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive—regardless of ability or neurotype. We support employees with disabilities and neurodiverse individuals through inclusive policies, reasonable accommodations, and awareness programmes. Our goal is to foster a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute.
Discover the unique spirit of New Zealand dairy farming, where land, people, co–operation, and candoattitude come together to create world-class products.
Join us for a farm to plate journey and find out how we dairy.
Sustainability
Our core commitment lies in creating lasting value for future generations. We are dedicated to producing dairy nutrition with a profound care for people, animals, and the environment, while also benefiting communities. In New Zealand, independent assessments are conducted annually on each supplying farm, evaluating against a comprehensive protocol that includes essential criteria and forward-looking considerations.
A major focus for us is minimising their environmental impact, particularly regarding greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farm production systems. These emissions, mainly generated by cows, constitute a significant portion of their overall carbon footprint.
Our dedication to sustainable practices and responsible farming reflects their commitment to long-term value, environmental stewardship, and supporting the well-being of all involved in their operations.
We love Kiwi dairy farmers and know they’re pretty awesome. For generations, they have relied on hard work, ingenuity, and each other to create the kind of goodness that fuels our families, connects our communities, and supports our economy.
At Farm Source, the same co-operative spirit that our farmers and their communities share drive our team. We make farming easier so farmers can continue to concentrate on what they do best – producing high-quality New Zealand milk in the most sustainable way. This means growing and supporting the right people – smart people with plenty of ‘roll-your-sleeves up’ energy to rise to the challenge. Whether you’re on the farm getting your gumboots dirty or connecting over a coffee at our local stores, you’ll get the mahi done as part of a trusted team – backed by good people, the right products, innovative solutions, and industry-leading expertise.
So why not join us? Whether you’re on the farm getting your gumboots dirty or connecting over a coffee at our local stores, you’ll be getting the mahi done as part of a trusted team.
We place a strong emphasis on animal welfare, particularly the well-being of cows, recognising their central role in dairy farming. The proper care of cows significantly impacts milk production, which is a source of pride for every farmer. We are dedicated to being a responsible animal management and strives for ongoing enhancements in animal welfare. We adhere to the ‘Five Domains’ framework to promote positive experiences for animals and eliminate practices that violate the ‘Five Freedoms’ principles.
Our domains encompass:
Freedom from hunger and thirst (Nutrition)
Freedom from discomfort (Environment)
Freedom from pain, injury, and disease (Health)
Freedom to express natural behavior (Behavior)
Freedom from fear and distress (Mental State)
We collaborate with farmers to meet globally recognised standards, working towards animal welfare excellence. As part of the Dairy Tomorrow Strategy, we aim to lead the global dairy sector in animal care. Our animal welfare responsibility extends to all our global operations, ensuring consistent good welfare practices among our milk suppliers. We share best practices globally, assess animal welfare, and demand continuous improvement from our supply chain, with non-compliant farmers unable to supply milk to Fonterra.
All current job openings are listed on our careers page. So, start by visiting our official website here.
Browse through the available positions and select the one that aligns with your skills and interests.
Once you’ve found the job, click the ‘Apply’ button to initiate the application process.
During the application, we’ll ask you some initial questions tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. Provide accurate and thoughtful responses.
Make sure to have your CV or resume on hand as you’ll be required to upload it.
Review your application details for accuracy, then click ‘Submit’ to send your application to us.
After submitting your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates on your application status, as we may contact you for further information or interviews if your qualifications align with our needs.
How to Apply & Tips
Ready to get started? Here’s how to apply:
All current job openings are listed on our careers page. So, start by visiting our official website here.
Browse through the available positions and select the one that aligns with your skills and interests.
Once you’ve found the job, click the ‘Apply’ button to initiate the application process.
During the application, we’ll ask you some initial questions tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. Provide accurate and thoughtful responses.
Make sure to have your CV or resume on hand as you’ll be required to upload it. (checkout out tips and tools below)
Review your application details for accuracy, then click ‘Submit’ to send your application to us.
After submitting your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates on your application status, as we may contact you for further information or interviews if your qualifications align with our needs.
CV Tips
Craft a CV that reflects your strengths, experience, and potential.
Whether you’re applying for your first role or your next step, we’ll help you stand out.
Your CV is often your first impression. It’s a snapshot of your skills, experiences, and achievements, and it should reflect who you are and what you’re capable of.
Whether you’re applying for your first job or your next big opportunity, here are some tips to help you stand out.
Interview Tips
From researching the role to practising your answers, here’s how to prepare and shine in your interview.
Interviews can be nerve-wracking—but with the right preparation, you’ll feel confident and ready to shine.
So, to get you started, here’s how to make a great impression.
Start Imagining Tomorrow with your Career Co-pilot
This AI-enabled Careers Toolkit is here to support your journey—whether you’re exploring new opportunities, preparing for interviews, or refining your CV. With smart tools designed to guide and grow your career, you’ll be backed every step of the way.
Tīmatahia te whakaaro mō āpōpō. Start imagining what’s next with your career co-pilot.
Careers in dairy are more diverse than many people realise — and at Fonterra, we’re actively working to inspire and build the next generation of talent across the industry. Through our Careers in Dairy programme, we connect students with real-world opportunities across the dairy sector, helping them see how their interests today can shape meaningful careers in the future.
We partner with schools, educators, industry organisations and community groups to spark curiosity and build practical skills from an early age. Through hands-on experiences, classroom programmes and initiatives like the Wonder Project, Agribusiness in Schools, Science Olympiad, House of Science and Growing Future Farmers, we support young people to explore pathways across science, technology and agriculture.
From engineering and manufacturing to automation, robotics, data analytics, sustainability, food science, research and development, supply chain, environmental management and digital technology, there are diverse career pathways that contribute to getting high-quality dairy products from farm to table.
Whether you’re designing and maintaining advanced processing equipment, developing new products, improving environmental outcomes, analysing data to optimise operations, or supporting the technology that powers our sites, you’ll have the opportunity to make a tangible impact while working on challenges that matter.
At Fonterra, you’ll work alongside experts across a wide range of disciplines, gain exposure to world-class technology and operations, and help create products enjoyed by millions of people around the world.
Want to explore what’s possible?
Discover the different pathways, roles and stories shaping the industry here.
Or dive deeper into learning resources, real stories and interactive career content on our hub here.
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LQBTQIA+
We are a staunch advocate of equal opportunities, dedicated to attracting, nurturing, and retaining a diverse and talented workforce while fostering an inclusive culture.
Our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is rooted in the belief that it is not only the right thing to do, but also essential for our strategy, living our purpose and values, and our engagement in the communities and markets where we operate.
We actively measure and report our progress, supporting our diverse team through various formal and informal initiatives. Our unwavering aim is to achieve global diversity and inclusion objectives, creating workplaces where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work, every day, and perform at their best.
At Fonterra, inclusion is at the heart of who we are. It’s how we live our values, especially Good Together, by creating a culture where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Our Employee Networks are one of the ways we bring this to life.
Whether you bring lived experience, want to be an ally, or are simply curious to learn more about others’ journeys, these networks are here for you. They’re safe, supportive spaces where people can connect, share, learn, and lead. Built by our people, for our people, they help us grow stronger together, because when we create community, we create belonging.
If you’re looking for connection, conversation, or a chance to make a difference, there’s a place for you here.
We believe in the power of STEM to shape the future – and your future graduate journey starts here.
Our Future Graduate Programme offers a range of STEM pathways, including Engineering, Technical (FGTP), and Data & AI. It’s designed to give you hands-on experience, real responsibility, and the support you need to grow from day one.
As part of the programme, you’ll rotate across our sites around Aotearoa, New Zealand, gaining exposure to different teams, challenges, and ways of working. You’ll learn from industry experts and contribute to real projects that deliver meaningful impact.
Looking to get started sooner? Our internships give STEM students the chance to apply their knowledge in real-world environments, working with industry leaders to solve practical challenges at our Research & Development Centre and manufacturing sites nationwide.
