Orchard Manager - Whakatane

This role is hands-on, requiring strong leadership in orchard operations while ensuring smooth communication across all teams.

The role involves managing all aspects of avocado production, from soil preparation to harvest, ensuring compliance requirements and optimising orchard health. Additionally, the Orchard Manager will play a key role in keeping all orchard staff on task and aligned with business objectives.

The role will be a minimum of 30 hours and a maximum of 50 hours per week.

The remuneration will be $31.61 to $50

• Plan and coordinate avocado production from soil preparation to harvest.
• Work with consultants to organize and apply compost, fertilizers, foliar applications, and irrigation to optimize plant and soil health.
• Maintain detailed records of orchard activities, including pest monitoring, plant health, IPM, assessments, and soil management to meet BioGro certification and other market requirements.
• Oversee pruning, thinning, grafting, fertilising, weeding, spraying/pest-control, and general orchard maintenance while training and supervising staff in best practices.
• Ensure peak growing conditions.
• Organise harvesting, storing, grading, and dispatching of avocados while ensuring

• Ensure the maintenance of orchard equipment, storage buildings, posts, fences, water systems and other relevant structures.
• Implement health and safety protocols to maintain a safe working environment.

• Meet regularly with all orchard staff, including kiwifruit teams and contractors, to ensure smooth operations and communication.
• Maintain an understanding of all orchard activities, including kiwifruit operations, to assist in workforce management and business-wide coordination.
• Ensure staff are on task and aware of key deadlines and priorities.
• Work collaboratively with other orchard managers or supervisors to optimise resource allocation and workflow efficiency.

• Plan and document crop production to maintain BioGro organic certification and other compliance requirements for crops.
• Maintain accurate financial records related to orchard management, including budgeting and taxation. This includes working with the owners to manage budgets, tax, and other financial considerations.
• Monitor market trends and production performance to adjust strategies for long-term sustainability and profitability.

• At least 2 years of experience in horticulture, or a related agricultural field – must have at least some experience in orchard supervision or management due to the high level of control for this role.
• Knowledge of organic farming principles, particularly in avocado production.
• Strong leadership and workforce management skills.
• Excellent communication skills to coordinate avocado and kiwifruit operations.
• Experience in crop production, pest and disease management, irrigation, and soil health monitoring.
• Understanding of market demands, export standards, and post-harvest handling.
• Strong organizational and record-keeping skills.