Harvesting Manager

Dunraven Recruitment; Holme-on-Spalding-Moor; On-site; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Harvesting Manager to lead the harvesting team in East Yorkshire. The role involves managing harvesting processes, ensuring product quality, and fostering team development while maintaining highest food safety standards. The ideal candidate should have strong leadership skills and relevant experience in fresh produce operations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience within a harvesting or fresh produce operation.
• Strong people management, coaching, and mentoring skills.
• Excellent organizational and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage the daily harvesting process and ensure quality targets.
• Plan staffing across multiple areas and coordinate agency workers.
• Train and develop team members to achieve performance standards.
• Monitor crop progress and adjust staffing based on forecasts.
• Champion food safety and compliance standards at all times.

Skills

People management

Coaching

Communication

Organizational skills

IT skills

Numerical skills

Leadership

Education

Degree-level education or equivalent experience

Advanced Food Hygiene qualification

Job description

Job Title

Harvesting Manager

Location

East Yorkshire

Industry

Fresh Produce/ Food/ FMCG

Salary

£40,000 per annum

Contract

Full Time, Permanent

About the Company and Role

We're working with a well-established business in the food and fresh produce industry, supplying high-quality products to major retailers across the UK. They're now looking for an experienced Harvesting Manager / Head of Harvesting to lead and develop the harvesting team, driving performance, quality, and efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the daily harvesting process, ensuring product quality and productivity targets are consistently achieved.
• Plan and organise staffing across multiple growing areas, including daily manning plans and agency coordination.
• Train, mentor, and develop pickers, placers, and supervisors to achieve high standards of performance.
• Monitor crop progress and adjust staffing levels to align with yield forecasts.
• Ensure product presentation meets specification requirements including weight, size, stem length, and packaging standards.
• Attend daily operations meetings to align harvesting plans with production and sales requirements.
• Support supervisors and team leaders in maintaining strong communication, motivation, and teamwork.
• Review performance data and address any shortfalls in productivity or quality.
• Champion food safety, health & safety, and company compliance standards at all times.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, focusing on reducing waste and improving efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with senior management and other departments to resolve issues and support site-wide objectives.
• Participate in food safety and quality teams (HACCP, TACCP, VACCP).

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience within a harvesting or fresh produce operation.
• Strong people management, coaching, and mentoring skills.
• Excellent organisational and communication abilities.
• Good IT and numerical skills.
• A proactive, hands‑on leader who can motivate teams and deliver results.
• Advanced Food Hygiene qualification.
• Degree‑level education or equivalent experience.

OPEN TO RELOCATORS