Avocado Grower Services Manager

Who We Are

DMS is a proudly locally owned and operated orchard management and post-harvest company based in the Bay of Plenty. Our purpose is simple: “Increasing Grower Profit.” With state-of-the-art packhouses in Te Puna and Te Puke, we’re consistently ranked among the top performers in kiwifruit and avocado packing and coolstore operations.

Our people are what make DMS special — we’re collaborative, professional, and passionate about what we do.

Our Values:

Together We Achieve | Positive Attitude | Show Initiative | Passion for Success | Consistent Customer Focus | Our People’s Wellbeing.

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Avocado Grower Services Manager to join our avocado team.

Reporting to the GM Avocados, you’ll play a key role across our avocado operation, working closely with growers, contractors, the avocado team and Te Puna packhouse to ensure our orchards, harvest and fruit supply are well coordinated and operating effectively.

This is a broad, hands-on role covering grower relationships, orchard management, contractor coordination, harvest planning, maturity testing, fruit flow, bin control and trucking logistics, as well as supporting technical, industry and compliance requirements.

You’ll need to be comfortable moving between the office, orchards and packhouse, working with growers and contractors one minute and getting involved in practical tasks the next. During the main kiwifruit packing season, generally March to June, you’ll also support Te Puna kiwifruit operations as required.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage relationships with allocated avocado growers, working closely with the GM Avocados and wider avocado team.
• Maintain regular communication with growers and ensure their requirements are understood, communicated and followed through.
• Build and develop grower relationships and actively identify opportunities for new avocado growers to pack with DMS.
• Coordinate orchard activities across DMS-managed and leased orchards, ensuring work is completed at the right time to support production and harvest.
• Coordinate orchard and harvest contractors, including scheduling, appointments, inductions, compliance and day-to-day requirements.
• Prepare and coordinate weekly avocado picking schedules and determine orchard picking order in line with crop maturity, volumes, market requirements and packhouse capacity.
• Coordinate fruit flow to Te Puna, including local and export market requirements.
• Coordinate bin requirements and movements and organise trucking and transport logistics.
• Coordinate and monitor fruit maturity testing to support appropriate harvest timing and efficient fruit flow.
• Monitor harvest progress, orchard conditions and operational requirements and adjust plans as required.
• Maintain an understanding of Avogreen and orchard spraying requirements.
• Apply technical avocado and horticultural knowledge, including spray programmes, fertiliser requirements and soil, leaf and water testing and analysis.
• Support industry, quality, food safety and Health & Safety requirements across orchard and harvest operations.
• Ensure contractors are appropriately inducted and meet DMS and relevant Health & Safety requirements.
• Visit orchards regularly and work with growers and contractors to identify and address operational requirements.
• Get involved in practical orchard work when required, including ground picking, fertiliser spreading and assisting growers with other tasks.
• Drive a ute and trailer as required.
• Work closely with the Te Puna packhouse to ensure harvest and fruit supply requirements are aligned with packing operations.
• Support Te Puna kiwifruit packing operations during the main kiwifruit season as required.
• Assist the GM Avocados and wider DMS management team with projects, problem-solving and other operational priorities.
• Respond to changing weather, crop, grower, contractor and operational requirements and adjust priorities accordingly.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for someone with solid experience in avocado, horticulture or a closely related operational environment who understands that successful orchard and harvest operations rely on good planning, strong relationships and being prepared to get involved.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience in avocado, horticulture, orchard management or a related agricultural environment.
• Strong knowledge of avocado production, orchard operations and harvest processes.
• Experience working directly with growers and building strong, professional relationships.
• Experience coordinating contractors, harvest crews and other operational resources.
• Strong understanding of harvest planning, fruit maturity, fruit flow and logistics.
• Good knowledge of orchard spraying, fertiliser requirements and general horticultural practices.
• Strong planning, organisation and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence dealing with growers, contractors, suppliers and internal teams.
• The ability to make decisions, solve problems and respond calmly when priorities change.
• A practical, hands-on approach and willingness to get involved in operational and physical tasks when required.
• Good computer literacy and the ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.
• A strong commitment to Health & Safety, quality and compliance.
• A full NZ driver licence and confidence driving a ute and trailer.
• Flexibility with hours and priorities during peak seasonal periods.

It would be great if you also have:

• Experience managing or supporting avocado orchards.
• Existing relationships and knowledge within the avocado industry.
• Experience with Avogreen, GlobalG.A.P. or other horticultural compliance requirements.
• Experience with avocado maturity testing and harvest planning.
• Experience coordinating local and export market fruit flows.
• Experience working across both orchard and packhouse operations.
• Technical knowledge relating to soil, leaf and water testing, fertiliser programmes and crop management.

Why Join DMS?

• Make a real impact – play a key role in managing grower relationships and coordinating the avocado operation from orchard through to packhouse.
• Variety throughout the year – work across avocado orchard and harvest operations, with involvement in our Te Puna kiwifruit packing season.
• Be part of the full operation – this isn't a role limited to one area; you'll work across growers, orchards, contractors, harvest, logistics and packhouse operations.
• Work with experienced people – join a well-established team with strong industry knowledge and relationships.
• Locally owned and operated – be part of a successful Bay of Plenty business with strong grower and industry relationships.
• Opportunity to make the role your own – work closely with the GM Avocados and contribute to the continued development of our avocado business.

If you’re an experienced avocado or horticultural professional who enjoys working with growers, coordinating operations and solving problems, we’d love to hear from you.

Join DMS and play a key role in delivering successful orchard, harvest and packing outcomes for our growers and customers.

Apply today!

Position description Apply now

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