Assistant Packhouse Manager

We are looking for an Assistant Packhouse Manager to support the day-to-day delivery of our kiwifruit packhouse operations in Patumahoe. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys working with people, solving operational problems and keeping a busy production environment running well.

What you'll be doing

Reporting to the Post Harvest Operations Manager, you will lead allocated shifts during our main packing season and coordinate a range of repack, pollen processing, and preparation activities across the rest of the year. At peak, you will lead a seasonal team of around 70 people, supported by approximately seven direct reports.  You’ll:

●   Lead your shift, coordinating people, workflow and resources against the production plan

●   Set clear expectations, coach the team and help create a positive, accountable workplace

●   Monitor production, quality, labour efficiency and product care, responding quickly when something is off track

●   Maintain strong health and safety, food safety, biosecurity, traceability and compliance standards

●   Plan rosters and labour requirements and oversee accurate timesheets, job coding, induction and training

●   Liaise with the supply team around local market demands and rework

●   Use Lean and continuous improvement tools to improve flow, efficiency and workplace organisation

●   Build effective working relationships with growers, internal teams and suppliers

●   Outside of the packing season you will review and update SOPs, prepare the packhouse for next season, lead repack and pollen processing, coordinate cleaning and maintenance teams and get involved with projects

About you

You will be visible, approachable and comfortable leading from the floor. You stay calm when priorities change, treat people consistently and take ownership of getting things done. You care about safety and quality, but you are also commercially aware and always looking for a better way to work. You may already be working in a packhouse, production, food manufacturing or horticultural environment and be ready to take the next step.  You’ll have:

●   At least two years' experience in an operational, production or people leadership role

●   A people focused approach with a proven ability to lead, organise labour and workflow, and deliver production and quality targets

●   Clear communication, good judgement and a practical approach to solving problems

●   Confidence using Microsoft Excel and learning new operational and reporting systems

●   The flexibility to work 4 x 12-hour shifts each week during the main packing season (Feb to June), including 1 weekend day

●   The legal right to work in New Zealand

Experience in kiwifruit, fresh produce, perishable products, seasonal workforce leadership or a Lean environment would be an advantage, but strong transferable operational leadership experience is equally valuable.

About Punchbowl

Punchbowl PackCo is a New Zealand-owned kiwifruit business with orchards across Auckland and Northland and a busy packhouse and coolstore facility in Patumahoe. We are proud of our people, our grower relationships and our focus on doing things better.

The Punchbowl Way is People Focused, Innovative and Energetic. These are not just words on a wall — they shape how we lead, solve problems and work together.

Why join us?

●   A year-round role with genuine variety across seasonal and off-season operations

●   The opportunity to grow your leadership capability alongside an experienced Post Harvest Operations Manager

●   A people-focused workplace where improvement, ideas and initiative are encouraged

●   Medical insurance and access to our workplace wellbeing programme

Ready to take the next step?

Apply with your CV and a short cover letter telling us why this role interests you and what you would bring to the Punchbowl team. We will review applications as they are received and may begin the recruitment process before the closing date.