Harvest Floor Leader: Cherry Packing & Operations

Clyde Primary School; Central Otago; On-site; NZD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

CentralPac Ltd. in Cromwell, Central Otago, seeks an experienced Floor Manager to lead packing floor operations during the cherry harvest. You will report to the Packing Manager, guiding multiple teams, managing labour and priorities to meet the production plan.

The role is hands-on in a fast-paced packhouse, overseeing packing, quality, grading, machinery, packaging, coolstore and maintenance, adapting to changing fruit conditions and production needs.

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

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

Team leadership

Staff supervision

Fruit grading

Production plans

Operational decision making

Communication

Traceability & food safety

Production systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Unitec machines

Automated optical fruit grading

Job description

CentralPac Ltd. in Cromwell, Central Otago, seeks an experienced Floor Manager to lead packing floor operations during the cherry harvest. You will report to the Packing Manager, guiding multiple teams, managing labour and priorities to meet the production plan.

The role is hands-on in a fast-paced packhouse, overseeing packing, quality, grading, machinery, packaging, coolstore and maintenance, adapting to changing fruit conditions and production needs.