We’re looking for a practical, organised, people-focused Nursery Manager to lead our kiwifruit and apple nursery operations across several sites. This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll balance day-to-day nursery work with staff coordination, planning, and production targets.

If you enjoy variety, autonomy, and the satisfaction of growing high-quality plants that feed directly into orchard success, this is a role where you can genuinely influence outcomes.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Managing the propagation and cultivation of kiwifruit and apple plants to meet annual production goals.
• Leading and supervising nursery staff, including seasonal workers during peak periods.
• Carrying out and overseeing key nursery tasks such as wire work, spraying, post installation, general maintenance, and site hygiene.
• Keeping accurate operational and production records and improving data processes where needed.
• Coordinating logistics, stock, and supplies for up to four nursery locations.
• Reporting regularly to the Kiwifruit/Apples General Managers.
• Training younger or less experienced staff and supporting wider team development.
• Helping with orchard activities during quieter periods (soil/leaf testing, compliance tasks, young plant care).
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory and certification requirements (including GlobalGap).
• Driving continuous improvement and contributing to longer-term nursery planning.

What You’ll Bring:

• Experience in nursery management or horticultural supervision.
• Strong organisational and people-management skills.
• A hands-on attitude and the confidence to make sound, independent decisions.
• Technical knowledge of kiwifruit and/or apple production (advantageous but not essential).
• Flexibility to travel between sites (vehicle provided or mileage reimbursed).
• A genuine interest in ongoing training and professional development.

What We Offer:

• Hourly rate: Negotiated based on experience.
• Hours: 40–45 hours per week. Overtime is paid at time-and-a-half after 40 hours (overtime policy currently under review).
• Vehicle: Company vehicle for work travel, or reimbursement if using your own.

Start date: Flexible.

Professional development: Training and industry development opportunities supported.

Work environment: A growing nursery operation with scope to influence systems, processes, and plant quality across the business.

If you’re ready to take ownership of a busy, evolving nursery environment and enjoy combining practical work with leadership and planning, we’d like to hear from you.