Technical Assistant - Breeding, Upper North Island

About The Kiwifruit Breeding Centre (KBC)

Our vision at the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre is to deliver the world’s most irresistible, healthy fruit. For Good. Through accelerated research, better fruit and better outcomes - for our people, our regions, our planet.

The Kiwifruit Breeding Centre is a 50/50 joint venture between The Bioeconomy Research Institute Limited and Zespri International. We work together to drive greater innovation in kiwifruit breeding and to create healthier, better tasting and more sustainability-focused varieties to create more value for Aotearoa, New Zealand.

At KBC, we encourage the team to live by our K.I.W.I Values

• Be Keen – be positive, be proud and bring your best.
• Take the Initiative – have courage, get stuck in and enjoy your work.
• One Waka – pull together, achieve more, faster and trust and be trusted.
• Act with Integrity – respect each other, be open and honest and speak up.

Position purpose

We are looking for people, on a casual basis, to commence work as seasonal Technical Assistants within our Breeding Operations Team.   This position enables sound research and operational decision-making through data collection, crop management and monitoring, in pursuit of creating better cultivars, faster for New Zealand Aotearoa & the world. You will provide assistance to the Breeding Operations team across the full range of routine breeding operations, including plant propagation, planting, field evaluation, harvesting, and packing.

Qualifications and Experience

• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy

• Strong communication and organisational skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel

• Ability to be flexible with the highs and lows of seasonal work which may involve working extended hours (including weekends) at times.

• For orchard work: be physically fit and flexible - able to lift up to 20kg, bend, and spend periods outdoors.

• For orchard work: A Full (or Restricted) clean driver licence

Kerikeri Location: 121 Keri Downs Road, Kerikeri 0294

Hours: Generally worked between 8:00am and 4:30pm, Monday - Friday, with the possibility for more hours and some weekend work during peak times so flexibility is required.

Please request a copy of the Position Description from: [email protected]

To Apply…

If you enjoy working in a fast-paced, fun, friendly, welcoming environment undertaking rewarding work, we'd love to hear from you. Please apply via our Seek advert.

Applications close at 5:00pm on Monday, 21 September 2026.

Please note: KBC will review resumes on a rolling basis and may invite shortlisted candidates to interview prior to the closing date. We recommend applying as early as possible for consideration.