Horticultural Manager

T&G Global Limited; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

T&G Global Limited seeks an experienced horticulture or fresh produce leader to own the Independent Supply Strategy across New Zealand and shape our apple supply network.

As Manager, Independent Supply NZ, you’ll lead a portfolio of independent grower partnerships, ensuring T&G has a profitable, sustainable and reliable supply of premium apple varieties to meet future market demand. This is a strategic leadership role grounded in the industry.

Qualifications

• Experience leading independent supply or similar teams.
• Strong understanding of orchard and crop production.
• Proven ability to build grower partnerships and commercial decisions.
• Experience in apples or perennial horticulture is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Independent Supply Strategy and long-term supply roadmap.
• Build and manage relationships with independent apple growers across NZ.
• Identify new growers and regional development opportunities.
• Provide insights on crop forecasting, supply planning and investment.
• Collaborate with sales, planning, operations and finance to align supply with demand.
• Develop and lead a high-performing Independent Supply team.

Skills

Leadership

Grower relations

Supply chain planning

Strategic thinking

Industry knowledge

Education

Agriculture/Horticulture degree

Job description

At T&G, our story is growing. We’re looking for an experienced horticulture or fresh produce leader to take ownership of our Independent Supply Strategy across New Zealand and help shape the future of our apple supply network.

As Manager, Independent Supply NZ, you’ll lead a portfolio of key independent grower partnerships, ensuring T&G has a profitable, sustainable and reliable supply of premium apple varieties to meet future market demand.

Relevant industry experience will be important in this role. Ideally, you’ll bring experience from the apple, orchard or wider horticulture sector, with a practical understanding of the realities of growing, crop performance, supply planning and long-term grower partnerships.

This is a strategic leadership role, but it’s one that needs to be grounded in the industry. You’ll combine horticultural knowledge, commercial acumen and strong grower relationships to make sound decisions about future supply and create value for both growers and T&G.

About the role

Reporting to the Head of Enterprise Initiatives, you’ll lead the Independent Supply team and work closely with growers and our Sales, Planning, Operations, Finance, R&D, Technical and Quality teams.

You’ll need to be equally comfortable around the orchard and at the commercial table, building credibility with growers while translating market and supply requirements into practical, long-term plans.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading the execution of T&G’s Independent Supply Strategy and long-term supply roadmap.
• Building trusted, commercially strong partnerships with independent apple growers across New Zealand.
• Identifying new growers, supply opportunities and regional development opportunities.
• Understanding grower and orchard performance and using this insight to support commercial decisions and portfolio growth.
• Providing recommendations on supply planning, crop forecasting, investment opportunities and risk.
• Working closely with growers and internal teams to align future apple supply with market demand.
• Bringing practical industry insight into decisions around varieties, production, supply and grower partnerships.
• Improving grower engagement, systems, processes and data quality.
• Leading and developing a high-performing Independent Supply team.

What you’ll bring

The strongest candidates will bring relevant experience from apples, orcharding, horticulture or fresh produce, alongside strong commercial and relationship-management capability.

We’d particularly like to hear from people who have:

• Experience within the apple, orchard or horticulture sector.
• A practical understanding of orchard production, crop cycles and the commercial drivers affecting growers.
• Experience building and managing relationships with growers, suppliers or other industry partners.
• Strong commercial judgement, including the ability to assess opportunity, risk and investment decisions.
• Experience with areas such as crop forecasting, supply planning, grower networks or production economics.
• The credibility and communication skills to influence growers and senior internal stakeholders.
• Experience developing and delivering strategic plans.
• Leadership experience and the ability to work effectively across multiple business functions.
• A relevant qualification in Agriculture, Horticulture, Business or Commerce, or equivalent industry experience.

Experience specifically within apples or perennial horticulture would be a real advantage.

Why join T&G?

• Play an influential role in shaping the future of New Zealand’s apple supply.
• Build long-term partnerships with some of New Zealand’s leading growers.
• Bring your industry knowledge into significant commercial and supply decisions.
• Influence how T&G grows its independent supply network over the long term.
• Lead a capable team and work across the wider T&G apple business.

About us

Here at T&G Global we're passionate about growing healthier futures. Our story began 125 years ago and today our 2,000 people are located in 13 countries, where we grow, market, sell and distribute high-quality fresh produce to customers in more than 60 countries.

Our mindsets are: Do the Mahi, Be Bold, One Team & Take Good Care. Our talented team members embody these mindsets and are passionate about making a difference at T&G.

If you know the horticulture industry, understand what matters to growers, and can bring strong commercial thinking to long-term supply partnerships, 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, driver license 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.