Head Of Vineyard Operations

winejobsonline.com; Otago; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation

Vehicle provided

KiwiSaver

Job summary

McArthur Ridge Wines is seeking a Head of Vineyard Operations to oversee vineyard activities across Central Otago sites. The role reports to the Board and offers autonomy to build a strong team and drive commercial and technical excellence.

You will manage seasonal and permanent staff, budgets, and asset care, while ensuring safety and compliance. A tertiary viticulture qualification and NZ driver's licence are required.

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in viticulture, horticulture or a related discipline.
• 5+ years' vineyard management experience.
• Strong people leadership experience, including managing seasonal and contract teams.
• Solid technical knowledge of cool-climate viticulture, ideally Pinot Noir, including frost-fighting.
• Genuine commercial acumen - budgeting, forecasting and reporting.
• Confidence with vineyard technology systems, including irrigation control and monitoring.
• ChemCert/Growsafe certification (or willingness to obtain), and a full, clean NZ driver's licence.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage the seasonal viticulture programme to produce award-winning fruit across McArthur Ridge and managed vineyards.
• Lead, roster and develop a team including assistant managers, an administrator, and permanent, seasonal and contract vineyard staff.
• Manage budgets, forecasting, and vineyard assets and infrastructure.
• Report regularly and directly to the Board.
• Manage external relationships, including water infrastructure partner and other vineyard owners.
• Uphold safe work practices and compliance across all vineyard operations.

Skills

Leadership

Vineyard management

Viticulture knowledge

Budgeting & forecasting

Board reporting

Irrigation tech

Safety compliance

People management

Contract staff management

Education

Tertiary qualification in viticulture/horticulture

Tools

Irrigation control systems

Farm machinery

Job description

McArthur Ridge Wines

A senior, largely autonomous leadership role - reporting through the Chair of the Board - overseeing vineyard operations across one of Central Otago's largest sites.

McArthur Ridge is a ~175-hectare vineyard in the Alexandra sub-region of Central Otago, planted predominantly to Pinot Noir alongside Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Rosé. Fed by pure glacial water and grown in the region's distinctive Brassknocker soils, our fruit underpins wines - including the Southern Tor and Brassknocker Pinot Noirs - that have picked up honours at the Decanter World Wine Awards, the International Wine Challenge and the New Zealand International Wine Show.

Beyond our own site, we also manage vineyard operations on a neighbouring property and several smaller blocks.

We're looking for an experienced Head of Vineyard Operations to lead all vineyard operations across our sites to produce exceptional fruit, to build and lead a strong team, and to bring genuine commercial and technology capability to a role with real autonomy and Board-level visibility.

You'll Be Responsible For

• Planning and managing the seasonal viticulture programme to produce award-winning fruit across McArthur Ridge and managed vineyards
• Leading, rostering and developing a team including assistant managers, an administrator, and permanent, seasonal and contract vineyard staff
• Managing budgets, forecasting, and vineyard assets and infrastructure
• Reporting regularly and directly to the Board
• Managing external relationships, including our water infrastructure partner and other vineyard owners
• Upholding safe work practices and compliance across all vineyard operations

What You'll Bring

• A tertiary qualification in viticulture, horticulture or a related discipline, and 5+ years' vineyard management experience, ideally at scale
• Strong people leadership experience, including managing seasonal and contract teams
• Solid technical knowledge of cool-climate viticulture, ideally with Pinot Noir, including frost-fighting
• Genuine commercial acumen - budgeting, forecasting and reporting
• Confidence with vineyard technology systems, including irrigation control and monitoring
• ChemCert/Growsafe certification (or willingness to obtain), and a full, clean NZ driver's licence

What's On Offer

• A market leading base salary, plus accommodation, vehicle and KiwiSaver, dependent on experience
• The chance to lead vineyard operations at one of Central Otago's standout sites, with genuine autonomy and Board-level visibility
• A well-run, high-quality operation with a talented and loyal team