Dispatch Supervisor & Orchard Operator

T&G Global Limited; Alexandra; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

T&G Hinton’s in Alexandra, Central Otago, is seeking a Dispatch Supervisor & Orchard Operator to join our team. This hands-on role blends packhouse dispatch, coolstore and logistics during the busy cherry and stonefruit season, with orchard work in the off-season.

You will coordinate daily dispatch, inventory and transport, load trucks, manage packaging and stock, and guide seasonal staff, with opportunities to develop across two key parts of our operation.

Qualifications

• Forklift certification required or demonstrated operating experience.
• Strong organisational and planning abilities.
• Experience coordinating day-to-day operational activities.
• Good computer skills and understanding of inventory or stock control.
• Ability to prioritise when busy and stay calm under pressure.
• Practical approach to problem solving.
• Commitment to health and safety, food safety and quality.
• Willingness to train and support seasonal employees.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily local and export dispatches and loads.
• Organise products and prepare loads for transport.
• Load trucks and support forklift operations.
• Manage packed fruit, packaging and consumable inventory.
• Coordinate inward fruit trucks and bin movements.
• Monitor coolstore space, temperatures and stock movements.
• Complete dispatch and inventory documentation accurately.
• Troubleshoot stock or dispatch discrepancies.
• Support export compliance requirements.
• Guide and support seasonal team members during peak operations.

Skills

Forklift certification

Organisational skills

Planning skills

Inventory control understanding

Problem solving

Health and safety awareness

Team training/mentoring

Job description

T&G Hinton’s | Alexandra, Central Otago

Looking for a role that gives you variety across the seasons?

We’re looking for aDispatch Supervisor & Orchard Operator to join our Hinton’s team in Alexandra. This is a hands-on operational role that changes with the seasons, combining packhouse dispatch, coolstore and logistics responsibilities during our busy cherry and stonefruit season, with orchard work during the off-season.

If you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, keeping things organised and getting stuck in alongside the team, this could be a great opportunity.

About the role

During our busy packing season, you’ll be a key part of keeping fruit moving efficiently from the packhouse to our customers. You’ll coordinate daily dispatch, inventory and coolstore activities, work closely with transport providers, and help ensure our fruit leaves site in great condition and on time.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating daily local and export dispatches

• Organising product and preparing loads for transport

• Loading trucks and supporting day-to-day forklift operations

• Managing packed fruit, packaging and consumable inventory

• Coordinating inward fruit trucks, packaging deliveries and bin movements

• Monitoring coolstore space, temperatures and stock movements

• Completing dispatch and inventory documentation accurately

• Troubleshooting stock or dispatch discrepancies

• Supporting food safety, quality and export compliance requirements

• Guiding and supporting seasonal team members during peak operations

When the packhouse season winds down, you’ll swap the packhouse for the orchard and work alongside our orchard team. Depending on experience, this could include:

• Tractor and machinery operation

• Mowing, mulching and vegetation management

• Pruning and tree training

• Fruit thinning

• Irrigation maintenance

• Orchard infrastructure and general maintenance

• Supporting and training seasonal orchard employees

It’s a role with plenty of variety and the chance to build experience across two important parts of our operation.

What we’re looking for

You’ll ideally bring experience from a logistics, warehousing, dispatch, horticulture, manufacturing or packhouse environment, along with a practical, organised approach to getting things done.

We’re particularly interested in someone who has:

• Forklift certification and confident operating experience

• Strong organisational and planning skills

• Experience coordinating day-to-day operational activities

• Good computer skills and an understanding of inventory or stock control

• The ability to prioritise when things get busy

• A practical approach to problem solving

• A strong commitment to health and safety, food safety and quality

• The confidence to support, train and work alongside seasonal employees

Experience with coolstores, export fruit, tractors or agricultural machinery would be an advantage, but you don't necessarily need to tick every box.

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who enjoys being hands‑on, takes ownership and works well as part of a team.

Hours and seasonality

This role is designed around the seasonal nature of our Hinton’s operation.

You'll have a minimum of 30 contracted hours per week, with significantly more hours available during peak season.

During the quieter orchard months, there is flexibility around how those 30 hours are worked, potentially across three or four days.

During our busy cherry and stonefruit season, you'll need to be comfortable working the hours required by the operation, including six to seven days per week at peak times.

Hours worked above 50 hours per week will attract an overtime incentive.

Why this role?

This isn't a job where every month looks the same.

You’ll have real responsibility for keeping our dispatch operation running smoothly during one of the busiest parts of the year, then get the opportunity to head outdoors and work across our orchards when the season changes.

For someone who enjoys variety, responsibility, machinery and practical work, it offers a great mix.

Ideally, we're looking for someone who can join us during November.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

Proof of eligibility to work in New Zealand is required for all applicants and any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory drug test, credit check, driver licence check,and security check.

We want T&G to be a place where everyone is accepted, respected and celebrated for who they are – regardless of our similarities or differences. It’s essential that everyone can be themselves and thrive, and that together we create a diverse and vibrant workplace.