Post-Harvest Operations Lead

Apatufarms; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leadership role

Career development

Competitive remuneration

Diverse work

Supportive team environment

Job summary

Apatu Farms is seeking a Post-Harvest Operations Lead to drive the onion intake, storage and production support operations. You will oversee a team of seasonal forklift operators, ensure safe handling, accurate inventory and timely production targets.

Reporting to Site Manager, you will manage the flow from intake to storage, maintain a large storage facility with thousands of bins, and lead continuous improvement across the site.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in warehousing, post-harvest, logistics, manufacturing, or horticulture.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• Experience operating forklifts and coordinating product movements.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet production targets.
• High attention to detail and inventory accuracy.
• Strong communication and people leadership skills.
• Hands-on approach and willingness to lead from the front.
• Commitment to health, safety, and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of seasonal forklift operators.
• Coordinate all incoming onion movements and storage activities.
• Oversee bulk unloading and in-feed operations.
• Ensure production lines are supplied to meet daily throughput targets.
• Maintain accurate inventory control and product traceability.
• Ensure health, safety, and quality standards are met.
• Maintain a tidy, organised, and efficient storage and yard environment.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the site.

Skills

Leadership

Warehousing

Forklift operation

Inventory control

Planning

Communication

Health & safety

People leadership

Job description

Lead the operation behind one of New Zealand’s largest onion storage and post-harvest facilities.

Lead the operation behind one of New Zealand’s largest onion storage and post-harvest facilities.

Apatu Farms is a leading Māori agribusiness with operations spanning horticulture, agriculture, transport, and dairy. Our onion operation is a critical part of our business, handling significant volumes of product destined for customers throughout New Zealand and around the world.

We are seeking aPost-Harvest Operations Leadto take ownership of our onion intake, storage, and production support operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for the safe, efficient movement and storage of product, while leading a team of seasonal forklift operators in a fast-paced environment.

About the role:

Reporting to the Site Manager, you will oversee the daily flow of onions from intake through to storage and production. You will lead a team of 6-7 seasonal forklift operators, ensuring product is handled safely, inventory is accurately managed, and production targets are achieved.

You’ll be responsible for maintaining a highly organised storage facility housing up to16,000 bins, ensuring product placement, traceability, and stock movements are completed accurately and efficiently.

This role will suit someone who thrives on organisation, enjoys leading people, and takes pride in maintaining high standards across both people and operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise a team of seasonal forklift operators.
• Coordinate all incoming onion movements and storage activities.
• Oversee bulk unloading and in-feed operations.
• Ensure production lines are supplied to meet daily throughput targets.
• Maintain accurate inventory control and product traceability.
• Ensure health, safety, and quality standards are met.
• Maintain a tidy, organised, and efficient storage and yard environment.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the site.

About you:

• Proven leadership experience in warehousing, post-harvest, logistics, manufacturing, or horticulture.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• Experience operating forklifts and coordinating product movements.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet production targets.
• High attention to detail and inventory accuracy.
• Strong communication and people leadership skills.
• A hands-on approach and willingness to lead from the front.
• Commitment to health, safety, and quality standards.

What We Offer

• A key leadership role within a large-scale post-harvest operation.
• Opportunity to lead and develop a seasonal team.
• Diverse and varied work with real responsibility.
• Competitive remuneration.
• Supportive management and team environment.
• Career development opportunities within a progressive agribusiness.

Why Join Apatu Farms?

• Take ownership of a critical part of our post-harvest operation.
• Lead a team and drive performance in a fast-paced environment.
• Manage the flow and storage of thousands of tonnes of premium produce.
• Build your leadership career within a growing agribusiness.