We are looking for One full-time Production Manager to join our growing company in the waikato region.
Location: 102 Aitken Road, Road 3, Onewhero 2693, New Zealand
Employment Type: Full-time
Salary: $75,000 per annually.
Working Hours: 48
Key Responsibilities
1. Operational Management
Act as the on-site lead for managing day-to-day field and packhouse operations.
Plan and allocate daily tasks, monitor staff performance, and adjust workflows to meet productivity targets.
Maintain efficiency across all crop work, picking, packing, and post-harvest operations.
Ensure equipment, packaging, crates, and tools are stocked and ready for daily use.
Organise fruit transport and support dispatch coordination.
2. Labour & Team
Leadership Lead and motivate field and packhouse teams with clear direction, training, and daily briefings.
Manage staff timesheets, harvest records, and job tracking accurately using the Dataphyll system.
Coordinate with Office Administrator and Owner for recruitment and staff planning.
Uphold team discipline, performance expectations, and health & safety compliance.
Train and support new staff in achieving quality and speed benchmarks.
3. Quality & Compliance
Monitor fruit quality from field to packhouse; reduce waste while meeting specifications.
Enforce health & safety and food safety policies on-site at all times.
Report any non-compliance, damage, or quality issues promptly and professionally.
Assist in implementing QA/QC procedures and improving quality systems.
4. Support to Growing Operations
Assist with basic growing tasks: tunnel maintenance, planting, pruning, spraying support.
Develop familiarity with fertigation schedules, crop manipulation timings, and seasonal work plans.
Communicate effectively with the Head Grower to align daily production with growing objectives.
5. Continuous Improvement & Development
Identify operational issues and propose solutions to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Take ownership of responsibilities and show initiative in problem-solving and team development.
Contribute ideas for process improvement and staff motivation.
Requirements for the job:
3 years relevant experience or a level 4 or above relevant qualiification or a Bachelor qualification in any field.
Strong leadership with a positive, can-do attitude.
Ability to manage and motivate diverse teams effectively.
Previous experience in horticulture, agriculture, or production environments preferred.
Excellent organisation, time management, and problem-solving skills.
Good understanding of quality control, health & safety, and compliance requirements.
Competent with mobile technology and production tools (e.g., phones, iPads, harvest apps).
Forklift licence and/or motorbike experience is advantageous.
Willingness to develop expertise in crop production systems, fertigation, and infrastructure.
Commitment to learning business operations including budgeting, forecasting, and labour cost management.
Strong initiative, reliability, and professionalism.
Demonstrated ability to lead by example and support a positive workplace culture.
Please note: Candidates must have the right to work in New Zealand. Applicants for this position should be NZ citizens or NZ resident visa holders.
If you feel like this job is right for you, please submit your CV with a cover letter by clicking "APPLY" now.
We may ask you to provide a reference check as well as confirming you do not have a criminal record in the past.