---
title: 'Pastoral Care Operations Manager at Mr Apple Careers site'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/pastoral-care-operations-manager-mr-apple-careers-site-whakatu-569y447scs69'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-15'
---

# Pastoral Care Operations Manager at Mr Apple Careers site

- **Company:** Mr Apple Careers site
- **Location:** Whakatu, New Zealand
- **Posted:** 2026-09-30
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-15
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/mrapplecareers/jobs/5251242007

## Job description

Lead with care. Support people. Create meaningful impact.

At Mr Apple, we're passionate about growing great apples and great people.

We're looking for a Pastoral Care Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day delivery of pastoral care services across our RSE programme.

This is a people-focused leadership role where you'll lead a team, manage competing priorities, build strong stakeholder relationships and ensure workers receive consistent support throughout their time with us. You'll work across the business to coordinate wellbeing, accommodation and operational activities while helping create a positive experience for our seasonal workforce.

What you'll be doing:

This role offers real variety where no two days will be the same. You might be supporting your team through a complex worker issue, coordinating accommodation readiness, working with operational leaders to resolve challenges, or planning for the next seasonal peak.

You'll be:

- Leading, coaching and developing a team of up to five Pastoral Care Coordinators
- Managing day-to-day pastoral care operations across multiple sites
- Coordinating worker wellbeing, accommodation and support services
- Building strong relationships with leaders and key stakeholders across the business
- Resolving complex issues and escalating risks when required
- Managing multiple priorities and ensuring timely follow-through
- Supporting seasonal planning and workforce readiness activities
- Monitoring trends and reporting insights to drive continuous improvement

What you'll bring:

We're looking for a strong people leader who can build relationships, manage complexity and confidently operate in a fast-paced environment.

You'll have:

- Proven experience leading and managing people
- Strong performance management, coaching and team development skills
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing capability
- The ability to balance multiple priorities and coordinate competing demands
- Experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds
- A practical understanding of worker wellbeing, cultural safety and people-focused support services
- Experience working within the RSE scheme or in pastoral care, workforce welfare or community support would be advantageous

What we offer:

- A highly visible leadership role with real impact
- The opportunity to lead and grow a dedicated team
- A varied role that combines people leadership, operations and stakeholder engagement
- A supportive and collaborative environment
- The backing of NZX-listed Scales Corporation
- The chance to work for New Zealand's largest vertically integrated apple grower

If you're a strong people leader who enjoys building relationships, solving problems and supporting diverse communities, we'd love to hear from you.

## About Mr Apple Careers site

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Mr Apple is New Zealand’s largest apple grower, packer, and exporter, responsible for exporting 25% of the country’s apple crop to over 45 countries worldwide.
- **Entity Type**: Private (subsidiary of Scales Corporation, a publicly listed company on the NZX under ticker SCL)
- **Headquarters**: Whakatu, Hastings, New Zealand
- **Founded**: 2001 (following the merger of the two largest apple growers after industry deregulation)
- **Founders**: Not publicly available (formed by merger of Grocorp Pacific Limited and another major grower)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Agriculture (apple growing, packing, and exporting)
- **Target customers**: B2B (international retailers, distributors, and wholesalers in over 45 countries)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To grow safe, crunchy, and delicious apples, underpinned by a 5 Point Promise to customers. The company’s vision is built on values of being “one team,” embracing diversity, acting with integrity, owning change, and always growing.

## Products & Services
- **Mr Apple Apples**: Premium fresh apples grown in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region, exported to over 45 countries. The company manages the entire supply chain from orchard to coolstore to packhouse to customer.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed for Mr Apple directly. Parent company Scales Corporation (NZX: SCL) has a market cap of approximately NZD $500M–$600M (as of mid-2025).
- **Key Metric**: Exports 25% of New Zealand’s total apple crop annually.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Part of Scales Corporation, a 120+ year old NZ agribusiness. Partners with Pacific governments and NZ agencies for the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) programme.
- **Growth Signals**: 2,000+ strong team; exports to 45+ countries; significant investment in automation and technology in packhouses; continuous innovation in apple growing and post-harvest handling.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Scale & Market Position**: Largest apple grower/packer/exporter in New Zealand, controlling a significant share of the country’s premium export crop.
- **Vertical Integration**: Manages the entire value chain from orchard to coolstore to packhouse to global customer, ensuring quality control at every step.
- **Innovation & Technology**: Leaders in apple innovation and technology, with a dedicated automation journey and a Head of Technology Delivery driving continuous improvement.
- **Brand & Reputation**: Strong global brand built on a 5 Point Promise of safety, crunch, and taste; trusted by retailers in 45+ countries.

## Strategic Focus
- **Automation & Technology**: Investing heavily in packhouse automation and IT systems to improve efficiency and quality.
- **Workforce & RSE Programme**: Deep commitment to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) programme, building strong partnerships with Pacific governments and agencies to ensure a reliable, well-cared-for workforce.
- **Sustainability & Innovation**: Continuous improvement in apple varieties, growing techniques, and post-harvest handling to maintain premium market position.
- **Global Market Expansion**: Growing export presence across 45+ countries with a focus on modern retail and brand storytelling.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Strong emphasis on being “one team,” with values of integrity, respect, diversity, and continuous improvement. The company celebrates difference and fosters a sense of belonging.
- **Work Environment**: Based in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, with roles spanning orchards, packhouses, coolstores, and a business support office in Whakatu. Roles range from hands-on seasonal work to professional careers in IT, finance, sales, marketing, logistics, and people & culture.
- **Growth & Development**: Strong commitment to “always growing” — both apples and people. The company invests in training and career development across all teams.
- **Diversity & Inclusion**: Actively embraces a richly diverse team, with a significant RSE programme bringing workers from Pacific nations. The Head of People & Culture leads a dedicated Health & Safety & Wellbeing team.
- **Work Arrangement**: On-site roles based in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Roles span seasonal/casual (packhouse, orchard, coolstore) to permanent professional positions (IT, finance, sales, marketing, HR).
- **Notable Perks**: Being part of a globally recognised brand; working in a beautiful region; opportunity to work across the full apple supply chain; strong focus on employee wellbeing and pastoral care for seasonal workers.

## Sources
1. [mrapple.com - Our Story](https://www.mrapple.com/en/our-story)
2. [mrapple.com - Work With Us](https://www.mrapple.com/en/work-with-us)
3. [mrapple.com - Work With Us (Business Support)](https://www.mrapple.com/en/work-with-us/business-support)
4. [mrapple.com - Homepage](https://www.mrapple.com/en)
5. [greenhouse.io - Mr Apple Careers](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/mrapplecareers)

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