Senior Leading Hand & Orchard Recruitment Day at Mr Apple Careers site (All)
Mr Apple Careers site· All·
Role details
Job description
Are you passionate about horticulture and keen to grow your skills? We're looking for an experienced Senior Leading Hand to join our team and help drive orchard success.
What you’ll be doing
In this role, you will support the Orchard Manager in the day-to-day running and maintenance of the orchard to produce a high-quality export crop of apples. You'll help ensure work is completed safely, efficiently and in line with company procedures, while supporting and developing orchard employees to achieve great results. You will play an important role in maintaining orchard performance, developing people, and contributing to the success of the wider team.
Your day-to-day tasks will include but are not limited to:
- Motivate and manage team members to ensure the orchard is optimally profitable
- Support work quality, productivity and day-to-day orchard operations
- Supervise and train seasonal staff
- Utilise technology to access, record and identify information
- Complete general orchard work such as property maintenance, redevelopment, tractor driving, spraying and pruning.
What you’ll bring
- Proven horticulture experience, including supporting, training or supervising orchard teams
- Excellent communication, organisation and time management skills
- Knowledge of machinery operation and maintenance
- Pest, disease and chemical knowledge
- Comfortable using technology and keen to continue developing your horticultural and operational capability
- A future thinker – you are passionate about learning and owning change
- You must have reliable means of transport to and from work
- You have the right to work in New Zealand and can pass pre-employment checks
What we offer
- This is an opportunity to develop and grow alongside a team of experts
- Industry leading technology to optimise the work environment
- High health and safety standards
- Teammates who believe we are stronger together
- Competitive pay to match your skills and experience
- Support and encouragement to obtain certification and qualifications
- Clear opportunities for career growth and progression within Mr Apple
Mr Apple have 400 permanent staff across their orchards, post-harvest facilities and business support services departments. With 15 orchard blocks across in Napier, Hastings and Central Hawke’s Bay, we are Future Thinkers working with cutting edge orchard machinery and equipment.
Why work at Mr Apple Careers site
- 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.