Production Manager - Northland Horticulture

Landcorp Farming; Kerikeri; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

KiwiSaver match

Extra Christmas leave

Training & development

Job summary

Landcorp Farming is seeking a capable leader to join our Kerikeri berry operation. You will shape a newly created leadership role, guiding a diverse seasonal team and driving day-to-day performance in a modern, robotics-enabled facility.

You’ll work closely with the Berry Manager, lead harvest and pruning, manage rosters and timesheets, and use data to make practical improvements. A rewarding, in-person role with strong development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading diverse seasonal teams.
• Ability to organise people and workflow effectively.
• Strong communication and people skills.
• Comfort using data or simple technology to track progress.

Responsibilities

• Lead harvest and pruning activities in the berry orchard.
• Coordinate labour, rosters and timesheets for seasonal staff.
• Plan ahead and adapt to changing priorities on the farm.
• Use data and simple technology to monitor progress and efficiency.

Skills

People leadership

Team development

Operational planning

Data-informed decisions

Communication

Job description

Shape a newly created leadership role in a growing operation. Lead and develop a diverse seasonal team. Competitive salary, health and life insurance, and ongoing development.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Help shape a newly created leadership role at Pāmu's award-winning berry orchard in Kerikeri. You’ll work in a modern, purpose-built operation that brings together world-leading genetics, high-quality infrastructure, and robotics. With consistently high yields and quality, and another 8 hectares reaching maturity in 2027, you’ll be joining at an exciting stage of growth.

Working closely with the Berry Manager, you’ll have the opportunity to lead harvest and pruning activities, develop a diverse seasonal team, and influence how the orchard works each day. You’ll be supported to bring your ideas, build capability across the crews, and create a safe, welcoming environment where people understand what’s expected and feel confident to do their best work.

You’ll enjoy plenty of variety. Some days you’ll be in the tunnels supporting crews and keeping work on track; at other times you’ll be planning ahead, coordinating labour, managing rosters and timesheets, and using data and simple technology to see how work is progressing. You’ll have the freedom to adjust plans as priorities change and help keep the operation running smoothly.

This is a visible, hands‑on role where you can stay connected to the operation, anticipate what the team needs, and support practical solutions. Your contribution will have a real impact on how the team works and what the orchard achieves each season.

ABOUT YOU

You may already be leading teams in horticulture, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, hospitality, or another busy, people‑focused operation. What matters most is your ability to organise people and workflow, communicate clearly, and help others succeed. Experience working with a seasonal, casual, or changing workforce would be useful, but horticulture experience is not essential.

You're likely to enjoy this role if you like:

• Leading busy operations where changing priorities bring variety to the day
• Setting clear expectations, building capability, and helping people do their best work
• Staying connected to the operation and proactively supporting the team
• Using data and technology to make informed decisions and identify practical improvements

You don’t need to tick every box to apply. If you’re an organised, supportive leader who enjoys working with people and improving how things get done, we’d like to hear from you.

ABOUT US

At Pāmu, you’ll be part of a large New Zealand farming organisation with more than 110 farms and opportunities to keep learning and growing. Our 12‑hectare Northland blueberry tunnel operation sits alongside a 70‑hectare avocado orchard in Kerikeri and is an important part of our growing horticulture business.

LIVE IN KERIKERI

Living in Kerikeri gives you space to enjoy life outside work. Beaches, bush walks, and swimming spots are close by, along with great cafés, markets, and a friendly community. You can finish your day and be at the beach, on a trail, or enjoying a local eatery within minutes.

BENEFITS

• We care about your wellbeing - that’s why we offer health and life insurance, enhanced parental leave benefits, and up to 4% KiwiSaver matching as part of a competitive salary package.
• You’ll also receive an extra day of leave over Christmas, along with ongoing training and development to help you thrive.

To be eligible for this role, you must be available for an in‑person interview and have unrestricted legal rights to work in New Zealand. We are unable to accept applicants on temporary work visas for permanent opportunities.

Pāmu provides a safe workplace and the successful applicant will be required to pass a drug and alcohol test and undergo a criminal background check prior to being appointed.

Our values are core to who we are at Pāmu and the way that we all work together. We are Grounded, Genuine, Bold, and Shoulder‑to‑Shoulder.

To read more, click on this link to see them on our website. To see what it’s like to work in our Dairy team, click on this link to see A Day In The Life of a Dairy Assistant at Pāmu, or to learn about what our Livestock team is all about, click on this link to see A Day In The Life of a Shepherd at Pāmu.

Pāmu is the brand name for Landcorp Farming Limited, and successful applicants will be employed by Landcorp Farming Limited.