---
title: 'Senior Leading Hand & Orchard Recruitment Day at Mr Apple Careers site'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-leading-hand-orchard-recruitment-day-mr-apple-careers-site-all-k3dr6f67vr53'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Senior Leading Hand & Orchard Recruitment Day at Mr Apple Careers site

- **Company:** Mr Apple Careers site
- **Location:** All
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2025-11-12
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/mrapplecareers/jobs/4940115007

## 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.

## 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)

## Other roles at Mr Apple Careers site

- [Pastoral Care Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/pastoral-care-coordinator-mr-apple-careers-site-whakatu-vrq969rq6bbr) — Whakatu, New Zealand
- [Communications & Content Partner](https://feeny.ai/job/communications-content-partner-mr-apple-careers-site-whakatu-278mmtes5t9n) — Whakatu, New Zealand
- [Export Sales Executive](https://feeny.ai/job/export-sales-executive-mr-apple-careers-site-whakatu-4tyzkt4hnfm8) — Whakatu, New Zealand
- [Orchard Foreman](https://feeny.ai/job/orchard-foreman-mr-apple-careers-site-all-dvkpyzexrb35) — All