Packhouse Manager - Soft Fruit - Berkshire/Surrey - £45,000 + Accommodation

Agricultural Recruitment Specialists Ltd; Wokingham; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site accommodation

Autonomy

Job summary

Agricultural Recruitment Specialists Ltd in Berkshire/Surrey area is seeking an experienced Packhouse Manager to lead a busy soft fruit packhouse and a large seasonal workforce. This hands-on role focuses on quality, efficiency and continuous improvement to meet seasonal demand.

You will plan labour, supervise training and attendance, ensure food safety and traceability, and work cross-functionally with growing, logistics and commercial teams.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a busy packhouse operation, ideally within fresh produce, horticulture or FMCG.
• Experience managing a large seasonal workforce with strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Good understanding of fresh produce quality, food safety and traceability requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a large seasonal workforce, including training, performance and attendance
• Plan labour and production requirements to meet seasonal demand
• Maintain high standards of quality, food safety, traceability and customer requirements
• Monitor productivity, waste and operational efficiency
• Work closely with growing, technical, logistics and commercial teams
• Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement
• Manage operational issues and problem solve effectively during busy periods

Skills

People management

Leadership

Problem solving

Education

NVQ Level 2

Job description

Packhouse Manager - Soft Fruit - Berkshire/Surrey - £45,000 + Accommodation

We are recruiting for an experienced Packhouse Manager to join a successful and progressive soft fruit business in the Berkshire/Surrey area. This is a hands on management role with responsibility for the day-to-day running of a busy, high-volume packhouse and a large seasonal workforce. You will play a key role in maintaining quality, efficiency and productivity throughout the operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a large seasonal workforce, including training, performance and attendance
• Plan labour and production requirements to meet seasonal demand
• Maintain high standards of quality, food safety, traceability and customer requirements
• Monitor productivity, waste and operational efficiency
• Work closely with growing, technical, logistics and commercial teams
• Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement
• Manage operational issues and problem solve effectively during busy periods

The Company

An established and progressive soft fruit business producing and packing high-quality fresh produce, with a strong focus on quality, efficiency and continuous improvement.

The Candidate

• Proven experience managing a busy packhouse operation, ideally within fresh produce, horticulture or FMCG
• Experience managing a large seasonal workforce with strong leadership and people-management skills
• Good understanding of fresh produce quality, food safety and traceability requirements
• Highly organised with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Able to work effectively under pressure during peak seasonal periods
• Excellent communicator with a hands-on and proactive approach
• Minimum NVQ Level 2, Scottish NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualification relevant to the role
• Must have the legal right to work in the UK or hold a valid visa permitting employment

Additional Candidate Requirements

All applicants must hold a minimum of an NVQ Level 2, Scottish NVQ Level 2, or an equivalent qualification relevant to the role applied for. Candidates must also have the legal right to work in the UK or hold a valid visa permitting employment.

The Package

• Salary £45,000 per annum DOE
• On site accommodation available if required
• Senior role with genuine responsibility and autonomy
• Opportunity to make a significant impact on operational performance within a growing soft fruit business