Maintenance Team Leader

The Plant People | Christchurch

Are you an experienced horticultural professional with a passion for leading teams and delivering high-quality landscape maintenance services?

The Plant People is looking for a motivated and hands-on Maintenance Team Leader to lead a small crew within our growing maintenance division. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors, takes pride in quality workmanship, and has the leadership skills to drive team performance and client satisfaction.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Project Manager / Canterbury Manager, you will lead a team of 2-3 maintenance staff and be responsible for coordinating day-to-day maintenance activities across a variety of commercial and public landscape sites.

You will ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest horticultural standards while supporting and developing your team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and motivate a small maintenance crew.
• Plan and allocate daily tasks and workloads.
• Ensure maintenance works are completed to agreed quality standards and programme requirements.
• Read and interpret landscape plans and specifications.
• Set out planting areas and ensure planting is completed correctly.
• Identify plant species and oversee ongoing plant health and maintenance requirements.
• Carry out and supervise planting, pruning, weed control, and general garden maintenance activities.
• Liaise professionally with clients, management, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor team productivity and performance.
• Address performance concerns and resolve workplace issues when required.
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety requirements.
• Support the successful delivery of contracts to relevant council and client specifications.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Level 3 Horticulture qualification (minimum).

• Level 4 Horticulture qualification (Amenity or similar) preferred, or equivalent industry experience.

• Strong practical knowledge of:

• Planting

• Garden maintenance

• Pruning

• Plant identification

• Weed control

• Plant health and horticultural best practice

• Current GrowSafe certification.

• Chainsaw and/or hedge-trimming qualifications (or equivalent experience).

• Proven experience leading and managing a team.

• Strong communication and people-management skills.

• The ability to motivate team members and create a positive team culture.

• Experience interpreting landscape plans and specifications.

• Sound understanding of New Zealand health and safety requirements.

• Full New Zealand Driver Licence (manual preferred).

• Class 2 Licence advantageous.

• WTR endorsements and machinery operation experience advantageous.

We're Looking for Someone Who Is:

• A natural leader who leads by example
• Organised, reliable, and accountable
• Proactive and solutions-focused
• Quality-driven with excellent attention to detail
• Confident communicating with staff, clients, and management
• Passionate about delivering exceptional horticultural outcomes

What We Offer

• Competitive remuneration based on experience.
• Opportunities for career development and training.
• Supportive management team and positive workplace culture.
• Diverse and interesting projects across Christchurch and Canterbury.
• The opportunity to work with a respected and growing landscape business.

Apply Now

If you have the experience, leadership skills, and horticultural knowledge to succeed in this role, we'd love to hear from you.