Floor Manager

Centralpac Ltd.; Central Otago; On-site; NZD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

CentralPac Ltd. in Cromwell, Central Otago, is seeking an experienced Floor Manager to lead packing floor operations during the cherry harvest. You will report to the Packing Manager, directing multiple teams, and ensuring safe, efficient production aligned with the plan.

This hands-on role covers packing, quality assessment, grading, machinery, packaging, coolstore and maintenance, adapting to changing fruit conditions and production constraints while keeping on-track against set standards.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant field (or degree in any field plus 12 months relevant work experience, with two cherry-specific packing seasons)
• Previous experience supervising or coordinating staff
• Proven understanding of fruit grading, quality, sizing, and packing specifications
• Experience with production plans, packruns, or customer packing requirements
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Good understanding of traceability, food safety, hygiene and workplace health and safety
• Comfortable using production systems and maintaining accurate operational records
• Experience with automated optical fruit grading equipment is desirable (Unitec experience an advantage)

Responsibilities

• Coordinate packing operations and deliver the shift production plan
• Lead and support Team Leads to manage staff performance, productivity, and training
• Allocate staff and adjust labour as production requirements change
• Monitor production flow, identify bottlenecks, and respond to downtime or breakdowns
• Coordinate packrun, variety, grade, size, packaging, and labelling changeovers
• Work closely with Unitec Machine Operators, QC, Crop Quality, Coolstore, Inwards, and Maintenance
• Respond to changing fruit quality, grading outcomes, and production priorities
• Ensure packing, presentation, traceability, and customer requirements are maintained
• Lead shift briefings and maintain clear communication across production teams
• Monitor staff performance, attendance, training, and workplace standards
• Ensure food safety, hygiene, biosecurity, and health and safety requirements are followed
• Provide clear shift handovers and report key production issues to the Packing Manager

Skills

People leadership

Communication

Safety awareness

Traceability

Education

Degree in a relevant field

Job description

Job Title: Floor Manager
Employer: CentralPac Ltd.
Location: Cromwell, Central Otago

About the role

CentralPac is looking for an experienced Floor Manager to join our team for the upcoming cherry harvest.

Reporting to the Packing Manager, you'll lead packing floor operations and production teams throughout your assigned shift, ensuring safe, efficient and consistent delivery of the production plan. You'll coordinate multiple teams across packing and box-making operations, provide direction to team leads and manage labour, workflow and production priorities as the shift unfolds.

This is a hands-on operational role in a fast-paced packhouse. You'll work across packing, quality assessment, grading and machinery, packaging, coolstore and maintenance functions, responding to changing fruit condition, production requirements and operational constraints as they come up. You'll need to be confident leading people, making practical decisions on the floor and keeping production on track against the standards set by the Packing Manager.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate packing operations and deliver the shift production plan
• Lead and support Team Leads to manage staff performance, productivity, and training
• Allocate staff and adjust labour as production requirements change
• Monitor production flow, identify bottlenecks, and respond to downtime or breakdowns
• Coordinate packrun, variety, grade, size, packaging, and labelling changeovers
• Work closely with Unitec Machine Operators, QC, Crop Quality, Coolstore, Inwards, and Maintenance
• Respond to changing fruit quality, grading outcomes, and production priorities
• Ensure packing, presentation, traceability, and customer requirements are maintained
• Lead shift briefings and maintain clear communication across production teams
• Monitor staff performance, attendance, training, and workplace standards
• Ensure food safety, hygiene, biosecurity, and health and safety requirements are followed
• Provide clear shift handovers and report key production issues to the Packing Manager

Key qualifications

• A degree in a relevant field of study or a degree in any field and at least 12 months' relevant work experience, with a minimum of two cherry-specific commercial packing seasons
• Previous experience supervising or coordinating staff
• Practical understanding of fruit grading, quality, sizing, and packing specifications
• Experience working with production plans, packruns or customer packing requirements
• Confidence making operational decisions in a fast-changing environment.
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Good understanding of traceability, food safety, hygiene and workplace health and safety
• Comfortable using production systems and maintaining accurate operational records
• Experience working with automated optical fruit grading equipment is highly desirable, with Unitec experience an advantage.

We’re looking for someone who can see the bigger production picture while staying on top of what is happening on the floor. You’ll be organised, practical and confident giving direction, while working closely with other operational and quality teams to keep the shift on track.

Term: fixed-term, 26 October 2026 to 31 March 2027
Pay Rate: $35 per hour
Hours: Depending on harvest conditions and packing requirements, minimum 30 hours per week, maximum 60 hours per week across a seven-day roster (Monday to Sunday). You may be required to work Statutory Holidays and must be available to work the whole harvest period.