Orchard Manager

Southern Cross Horticulture; Pukehina Beach; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Cross Horticulture in New Zealand seeks an Orchard Manager to lead planning, execution and optimisation of orchard operations from the field. You will ensure high production and financial outcomes while developing tomorrow's horticultural leaders.

This hands-on leadership role requires guiding a team, managing budgets, ensuring safety/GAP compliance, and building strong customer relationships. A clear pathway toward Area Manager offers ongoing career growth in a family-owned business.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in horticulture, with leadership in orchard management or supervisor experience.
• Strong knowledge of kiwifruit vine growth and training.
• Financial acumen or willingness to develop budgeting/reporting skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building.
• NZ driver’s licence and eligibility to work in New Zealand.

Responsibilities

• Leading orchard planning, canopy development, and crop yield performance.
• Managing budgets, reporting, and customer communication.
• Overseeing health, safety, and GAP compliance.
• Coaching and mentoring Orchard Managers, Vine Managers, Supervisors, and Cadets.
• Building strong customer relationships and exceeding expectations.
• Driving a culture of excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Orchard management

Planning & budgeting

Communication

Coaching & mentoring

NZ driver license

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Southern Cross Horticulture – Pukehina, North Island

At Southern Cross Horticulture, our goal is to develop and manage the world’s best kiwifruit orchards.

As an Orchard Manager, you will provide strategic direction, lift performance, and work towards world-class results. You’ll join a family-owned business where people genuinely come first. With our high-performance culture, strong systems, and supportive leadership, you’ll feel the difference from day one.

We offer you the autonomy to lead your operation while surrounding you with the right expertise to succeed. With a clear pathway toward Area Manager, this is a role where you can continue to grow your career.

The Role

As an Orchard Manager, you’ll lead the planning, execution, and optimisation of orchard operations. You will ensure orchards are run to the highest standard, achieving production, financial, and customer outcomes, while developing the next generation of horticultural leaders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading orchard planning, canopy development, and crop yield performance
• Managing budgets, reporting, and customer communication
• Overseeing health, safety, and GAP compliance
• Coaching and mentoring Orchard Managers, Vine Managers, Supervisors, and Cadets
• Building strong customer relationships and exceeding expectations
• Driving a culture of excellence, safety, and continuous improvement

This is a hands-on leadership role, with around 85% of your time spent in the orchard leading people and ensuring smooth operations.

About You

We are looking for ambitious individuals who set the standard, challenge themselves, and thrive in a high-performance environment. To be successful in this application you will bring;

• Proven leadership in Orchard Management, or solid Vine Manager/Supervisor experience with the readiness to step up (5+ years in horticulture preferred)
• Strong knowledge of kiwifruit vine growth, training, and orchard inputs
• Financial acumen or the willingness to develop budgeting and reporting skills
• Strengths in planning ahead, problem-solving, and resilience
• Excellent communication and relationship-building capability
• A passion for coaching and developing people
• A valid NZ driver’s licence and eligibility to work in New Zealand

Why SCH?

Southern Cross Horticulture is driven by a clear mission: to create the world’s best kiwifruit orchards and enrich the lives of our people, customers, shareholders, and communities.

With more than 40 years’ experience planting, growing, and exporting kiwifruit, we are one of New Zealand’s largest and most successful SunGold (G3) orchard developers and producers. From selecting land to designing, building, growing, and managing orchards, our expertise spans the full lifecycle.

Our values—excellence, integrity, teamwork, strong relationships, and a positive attitude—guide everything we do.

For more information about Southern Cross Horticulture Ltd visit:www.southerncrosshorticulture.co.nz