ORCHARD SUPERVISOR | Gisborne – THOMPSON’S HORTICULTURE

ORCHARD SUPERVISOR | Gisborne

Overview

Thompson's Horticulture Ltd

Orchard Supervisor

Gisborne · Kiwifruit

★ 2 positions available

★ Gisborne
★ 10–20 direct reports (Season dependant)
★ Permanent
★ Horticulture

We have two exciting opportunities for experienced Orchard Supervisors to join the Thompson's Horticulture team in Gisborne. If you're a natural leader who thrives outdoors, takes pride in your team's output, and knows your way around a kiwifruit orchard — we'd love to hear from you.

About the role

Based in Gisborne — two positions available

Gisborne is one of New Zealand's premier kiwifruit growing regions. These are permanent, full-time positions working across local orchards, reporting to the Orchard Manager. Both positions are available for immediate start.

What you'll be doing

Leading and coordinating your crew through all stages of the kiwifruit season — winter pruning through to harvest
Monitoring productivity (bays/hr, bins/hr, bud numbers/m²) against seasonal benchmarks
Building and retaining a motivated crew, with a focus on quality, consistency, and low staff turnover
Overseeing health and safety — toolbox meetings, safe work practices, and prompt incident reporting
Maintaining accurate payroll and crew records through AgriSmart on a daily basis
Liaising with the Orchard Manager to continuously improve orchard practices and uphold THL standards

What we're looking for

1+ years orchard supervisory experience, or a horticulture qualification
Proven ability to lead and motivate a team
Clean driver's licence
Strong communication skills — with crew and management alike
Genuine passion for working outdoors year-round
Excellent time management and ability to self-direct
Professional and ethical approach to the role
Energy and patience to work with a diverse team

Why Thompson's

Thompson's Horticulture Ltd is a well-established operation with strong relationships across the Kiwifruit network and a reputation for quality. You'll have real responsibility from day one — your crew, your targets. We back people who take pride in their work and want to grow their knowledge of the industry alongside us. With two roles on offer, this is a great opportunity to join a team that's growing in Gisborne.

No. of Vacancies

Job Nature

Full Time, Permanent

Experience Requirements

Job Location

Gisborne

Job Level

Sr. Position

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The following information is required to assist Thompson’s Horticulture to meet its obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2001.

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