Grower Liaison Manager

Heartland Fruit New Zealand is a vertically integrated apple business with a clear focus on delivering value to our suppliers and customers through “Fruit First” attitudes, safe behaviours and a great team environment. Owning the whole value chain enables control of every step in the apple life cycle from tree to our customers and as a result the company has forged the reputation of producing the finest apples in New Zealand.

An exciting opportunity exists to represent our Grower Programme providing operational and technical support to our grower partners. Reporting to the Chief Executive, and based in sunny Nelson the Grower Liaison Manager will be responsible for building collaborative, enduring business relationships to assist growers in maximising their potential to produce quality fruit for our New Zealand and Export customers.

Liaising between sales team, packhouse and growers, you will co-ordinate harvest and packing timelines, facilitate orchard best practice knowledge sharing and help forecast quality and tonnage by variety and grower. You will also be a key facilitator for Heartland growth by developing new grower partnerships for supply via new variety programmes.

We would like to speak with people who have:
• A Bachelor of Horticulture Science of similar science based tertiary qualification
• Experience in on farm/orchard relationships with growers at a professional level
• Exhibits a high level of interpersonal, analytical and reporting skills
• Ability to communicate and advise one-on-one with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience in sales and logistics within primary production

If you are a person who can deliver results through strong influencing and negotiating skills and can tell our story with authenticity to current and prospective suppliers, this could be the next position for you.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.