Technical Shift Manager

At Season’s Best, we grow, process, and deliver New Zealand vegetables the right way — from soil to freezer. Everything we do is purposeful, tightly controlled, and built for quality and consistency. Our modern processing operations supply premium vegetables to NZ and global markets, supported by decades of experience and ongoing investment in our people and facilities.

We are currently seeking Technical Shift Managers to join our Ashburton operations, providing hands‑on leadership across our vegetable processing plants.

This role is ideally suited to qualified tradespeople who want to move into, or continue in, an operational leadership role while staying closely connected to engineering principles.

About the role

This is a hands‑on, technically led shift leadership role, reporting to the Production Manager. You will use your trade expertise to lead safe, efficient processing and pack‑out operations, while coaching teams and driving performance.

As the technical authority on shift, you will support equipment reliability, start‑ups, changeovers, fault‑finding, and overall plant readiness. You will remain accountable for safety, quality, yield, throughput, and performance to plan.

This is not a desk‑based role — you will be on the floor leading, troubleshooting, and continuously improving how the plant runs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide on‑shift technical leadership, applying trade skills to support smooth and reliable plant operation
• Lead processing and pack‑out activities to meet safety, quality, yield, throughput, and plan targets
• Support plant start‑ups, shutdowns, changeovers, and breakdown response
• Identify and resolve mechanical and/or electrical issues affecting performance
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Field and H&S teams
• Drive improvements in run rates, uptime, yield, waste reduction, and changeover efficiency
• Lead, train, and develop teams with a strong focus on safety, accountability, and performance

For this role, you will need:

• A recognised trade qualification (electrical, mechanical, or dual‑trade), with strong cross‑discipline technical capability
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a manufacturing or processing environment
• Food processing experience (desirable but not essential)
• Proven experience leading teams on shift
• Willing and flexible to work a variety of shifts, including Night Shift
• Strong fault‑finding, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills
• Current Driver’s License and Forklift License

With Season's Best, you get:

• A trade‑led leadership role in a 100% New Zealand‑owned exporter
• Staff discounts and other perks 
• Strong team culture and long‑term career pathways

Ready to start?

If this sounds like a good fit for you, please submit your application along with your resume.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received until the position(s) is/are filled.

Is this role not the right fit for you? See our other openings at seasonsbest.co.nz/careers

Season's Best is a drug free workplace. All candidates may be required to under-go pre-employment and random drug screening.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work permanently in New Zealand.

Position description Apply now

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