Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator

About Us

Darjeeling Management Limited is a business based in the Hawke’s Bay, one of New Zealand’s most prominent horticultural regions. We are dedicated to assisting in producing high-quality pip fruit including but not limited to apples, grapes & kiwifruit for both domestic and export markets. Our focus is on sustainable orchard management practices, innovation, and delivering consistent productivity while supporting our team of skilled workers. We offer great pay, maintain a dedicated team focus, and are known as an ethical employer and a locally owned established business.

Job Purpose

We are seeking resolute and experienced Mobile Plant Operator to join our expanding orchard management and maintenance team. This is a permanent role working on multiple orchards, primarily in the greater Hawke’s Bay region. The Mobile Plant Operator is responsible for operating and maintaining of orchard machinery. This role supports all aspects of orchard operations, including land preparation, planting, cultivation, irrigation, pest management, thinning, pruning, and harvesting. It also requires compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards. Adaptability to clients’ needs, a cheerful outlook, and motivation as a collaborator are essential, with a focus on seeking continual improvement in results.

Key Tasks

• Operate tractors, harvesters, loaders, sprayers, and other mobile machinery to prepare land, fertilize, cultivate, and assist with crop management.
• Support irrigation, & pest control.
• Maintain records of machinery use and orchard activities.
• Perform routine machinery maintenance, cleaning, and minor repairs.
• Monitor machinery performance and report faults.

Skills and Experience Required

• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in the pip fruit industry including but not limited to apples, grapes & kiwifruit with exceptional knowledge of pip fruit orchard and harvest procedures including operating horticultural mobile machinery.
• Knowledge of orchard operations is necessary, and machinery maintenance preferred.
• Current driver’s license (Class 1 Full) is necessary and/or heavy machinery license preferred.
• Ability to work long hours and days as part of a seven-day-a-week operation, with rostered days off.
• Ability to work in outdoor conditions including exposure to varying weather working around chemicals.

Desirable Skills

• Current First Aid Certificate – Level 2 holder preferred.
• Effective communication, diligence, reliability, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a resolute team.
• Ability to think quickly, solve problems, and resolve issues as they arise.

• Demonstrate strong work ethic, reliability, and cheerful outlook.
• Flexibility to meet work demands as required.
• Good understanding of business operations, including managing budgets, timelines, and teams.
• Competent computer skills and accurate record-keeping abilities.
• Access to reliable transport to get to work.
• Extended hours may be required during planting and harvest periods.
• Required to undergo drug testing at random occasions.
• Criminal checks and gang affiliation declaration required due to transient nature of employment to minimize  any arising conflicts within.