Post Harvest Processing Manager

Puro; Kekerengu; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Puro, located in Kekerengu, New Zealand, is seeking a Post-Harvest Processing Manager to lead post-harvest cannabis operations. This role is vital for ensuring compliance with quality standards and improving workflows within the team.

The ideal candidate will have leadership experience and a degree in a related field, along with substantial high-quality processing experience. Puro offers a collaborative, safety-focused work culture committed to sustainable practices.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in post-harvest processing in regulated industries.
• Experience in horticulture, food, or pharmaceutical industries preferred.
• Medicinal cannabis experience advantageous but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead all post-harvest processing activities efficiently.
• Ensure compliance with quality and regulatory standards.
• Manage post-harvest processing team and develop their capabilities.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities in processing activities.

Skills

Leadership and organisational skills

Attention to detail

Quality compliance understanding

Communication skills

Proactive mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Food Science, Agriculture or related

Job description

Puro is a New Zealand–owned, medicinal-grade cannabis company focused on producing premium, organic products for global pharmaceutical markets. Our operations are built on quality, compliance, and long‑term thinking, supported by strong partnerships with iwi, regulators, and international customers.

At Puro, we operate in a highly regulated environment where standards matter. We take a disciplined, thoughtful approach to how we grow, process, and handle our products, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, kaitiakitanga, and respect for the land and people involved in our operations.

Position Description

Role Title: Post-Harvest Processing Manager
Location: Kekerengu, Marlborough

Role Purpose

The Post-Harvest Processing Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all post-harvest activities within Puro’s medicinal cannabis operations in Kekerengu, Marlborough. This role ensures that post-harvest processing is carried out efficiently, safely, and in full compliance with regulatory, quality, and organic certification standards.

Working closely with cultivation and quality teams, the Post-Harvest Processing Manager plays a critical role in maintaining product integrity, meeting production targets, and continuously improving workflows to support the delivery of high-quality medicinal products for domestic and international markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee all post-harvest processing activities, including scheduling, workflows, and daily operations.
• Ensure production targets are met efficiently while maintaining product quality and consistency.
• Plan and coordinate processing activities in alignment with harvest schedules and business priorities.
• Maintain high quality standards in line with Biogrow organic certification, Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all post-harvest processes, records, and documentation are accurate, complete, and audit-ready.
• Monitor environmental controls and processing conditions to protect product integrity and compliance.
• Lead, develop, and motivate the post-harvest processing team to achieve strong performance outcomes.
• Provide clear direction, training, and support to build capability and accountability within the team.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and safety-focused team culture.
• Oversee the operation and maintenance of post-harvest equipment and processing infrastructure.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in efficiency, quality, and workflow optimisation.
• Implement improvements that enhance productivity while maintaining regulatory and quality standards.
• Work closely with cultivation, quality assurance, and wider operations teams to ensure alignment and consistency across the production process.
• Communicate effectively across teams to resolve issues, manage priorities, and support operational planning.
• Contribute to operational reporting and performance reviews as required.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Food Science, Agriculture, or a related discipline (preferred).
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in post-harvest processing within horticulture, food, pharmaceutical, or similar regulated industries.
• Experience working within regulated production environments; medicinal cannabis experience is advantageous but not essential.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong leadership and organisational skills with the ability to manage and develop a diverse team.
• High attention to detail and a strong understanding of quality systems and compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to manage complex workflows and meet production deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to support collaboration across teams.
• Proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement.