Operational Management Cadet

About us

Ovation New Zealand Limited is a leading processor, marketer and exporter of value added, high quality ovine products marketed throughout the world.  We are a proud New Zealand owned company with multiple plants and subsidiaries employing over 1,150 people in peak season.  This includes our plant in Te Kuiti, called Te Kuiti Meat Processors.

We have opportunities at Gisborne and Te Kuiti.

About the role - Multiple opportunities

Not sure exactly where you want your career to take you?

Our Management Cadetship Programme is designed for ambitious individuals who want real responsibility, hands-on leadership experience, and exposure to a wide range of career opportunities before deciding where they fit best.

The meat and food processing industry is one of New Zealand's largest export sectors, offering careers in operations, production, people leadership, quality assurance, logistics, engineering, health & safety, continuous improvement, and senior management.

This is not a desk-based graduate programme. It's an operational leadership pathway that puts you at the heart of a fast-paced business, helping you develop the skills, experience, and confidence to become one of our future leaders.

What You'll Do

As a Management Cadet, you'll rotate through key operational areas of our business, learning how a large-scale food production operation works from the ground up.

You'll gain experience in:

• People leadership and team management
• Production and operational planning
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Continuous improvement initiatives
• Communication and stakeholder management
• Health, safety and quality systems
• Supply chain and logistics
• Procurement
• Our subsidiary partners operations

Working alongside experienced leaders and mentors, you'll build a strong understanding of our business while developing the skills needed for future management roles.

About you

You might have recently completed (or be about to complete) a degree in, or you may have a strong interest in the Agriculture sector!

More important than your qualification is your attitude.

We're looking for people who:

• Want to build a leadership career
• Are motivated, resilient and eager to learn
• Enjoy working with people
• Have strong communication skills
• Aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves and get involved
• Thrive in a fast-moving operational environment