FOREMAN/ FARM, PLANT & EQUIPMENT MANAGER

Farm Manager SA; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Farm Manager SA in New Zealand seeks an experienced operations candidate to lead tunnel-house projects and ongoing maintenance. The role requires hands-on leadership of small teams, budgeting, and procurement for horticultural facilities, with a focus on strawberries when applicable.

You will oversee construction, irrigation systems, and plant equipment, reporting on progress, costs, and risks, while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance in a dynamic farm environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading builds and maintenance programmes.
• Experience in horticulture or farming with strawberries preferred.
• Proven ability to supervise staff or contractors within budget.

Responsibilities

• Tunnel-house construction and maintenance.
• Irrigation and crop equipment management.
• Procurement and supplier coordination.
• Develop SOPs and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure health, safety and compliance on site.
• Carry out crop work as required.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Irrigation systems

Team leadership

Budget management

Procurement

Planning & reporting

Construction supervision

Poly-tunnel know-how

Outdoor seasonal work

Supplier management

Education

Mechanical engineering qualifications

Horticultural science qualifications

Job description

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Qualifications in mechanical engineering, or horticultural science would be beneficial.
• Experience leading the build of poly-tunnels. Ideally Haygrove ones with strawberry substrates.
• Experience growing in horticulture, and leading small teams. Ideally strawberries.
• Demonstrated practical experience in construction, engineering, or plant and equipment maintenance — ideally in horticulture, agriculture or a comparable field environment.
• Proven ability to lead a build or maintenance programme, including supervising staff or contractors and managing to a budget.
• Sound mechanical aptitude across pumps, irrigation, and light plant; competent with hand and power tools.
• International procurement and supplier management experience, including for technical items.
• Strong planning, record-keeping and communication skills; able to report clearly on progress, cost and risk.
• Physically capable of hands-on outdoor work, and available for seasonal variation in hours as set out in the employment agreement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO

• Tunnel-house construction
• Tunnel-house maintenance
• Irrigation, harvest equipment and general plant
• Procurement
• SOPs & Continuous Improvement
• Health, safety and compliance
• Crop work

ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted