ORCHARD SUPERVISOR / LIVESTOCK MANAGER

Depending on the stage of the season, the Orchard Supervisor may lead teams of up to 40 workers across multiple orchard sites. The seasonal workload generally follows the below schedule:

Winter Pruning (mid- June – September)

Summer Tasks (September – mid-March): Bud thinning, squeezed tipping, cane training, fruit thinning, blank shoot plucking, zero leaf removal, cosmetic thinning, and male pruning

Harvest Season (mid-March – mid-June): Fruit picking and logistics

The Supervisor plays a key role in ensuring that crews are working efficiently, safely, and to orchard standards, training and overseeing staff and coordinating orchard activities while also providing technical advice on horticultural best practices, pest and disease identification, and agrichemical use.

The orchards also have grazing land attached so the Orchard Supervisor needs to have experience and qualifications with handling cattle.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Key Tasks/Duties:

●     Supervise day-to-day operations of orchard crews working across multiple locations.

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●     Organise workflow and ensure that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks, and the associated quality and productivity expectations.

●     Assess fruit maturity based on colour, firmness, and visual signs; take and submit samples for Brix testing to determine harvest readiness.

●     Ensure quality standards are met during harvesting by discarding overripe or damaged fruit and providing real-time guidance.

●     Coordinate logistics including placement of picking bins by tractor drivers, and the delivery and distribution of tools, ladders, and PPE.

●     Provide technical training and ongoing instruction to crew members in pruning, twist/thinning, and other horticultural practices.

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●     Use technical knowledge to provide advice to Orchard Owners or Managers where concerns are observed

●     Identify plant health issues, including pest or disease presence and nutrient deficiencies, and report or escalate as necessary.

●     Supervise the construction and establishment of new orchard blocks, including planting and irrigation.

●     Manage weed control programs and agrichemical application in accordance with Growsafe standards.

●     Ensure health and safety compliance on-site, including induction of new staff and hazard management.

●     Maintain and submit employee records, including timesheets, holidays and sick leave tracking, and performance notes.

●     Act as the central communication point between workers, orchard managers, and the company office.

●     Review daily progress, ensure deadlines are met, and prepare and submit reports to management.

●     Support conflict resolution, deliver performance feedback, and implement disciplinary processes if necessary.

●     Monitoring and evaluating the health and wellbeing of livestock.

●       Overseeing daily operations on the farm, including the care and maintenance of livestock, equipment and facilities.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills and Experience Required:

●     Minimum of three years' relevant experience in a commercial horticultural or orchard setting;
 OR
 A Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture/Agriculture or a closely related discipline.

●     Demonstrated ability to train, supervise, and motivate large field-based teams from diverse backgrounds.

●     Practical knowledge of kiwifruit production cycles and best practice orchard management.

●     Strong understanding of seasonal operations, quality assurance, and plant health.

●     Competence in logistics coordination and orchard worksite planning.

●     Excellent communication skills and the ability to liaise professionally with orchard clients and internal teams.

●     Capable of maintaining accurate administrative and production records.

●     Flexible, reliable, and committed to health and safety.

●     Preferable speaks English and Spanish

Desirable Qualifications:

●     Growsafe Certified Handler (preferred)

●     First Aid Certificate

●     Full New Zealand Driver Licence