Inwards Operations Coordinator

Job Title: Inwards Operations Coordinator
Employer: CentralPac Ltd
Location: Cromwell, Central Otago

About the role

CentralPac Ltd is seeking an Inwards Operations Coordinator for the 2025-26 cherry harvest season. This fixed-term position is responsible for overseeing the efficient receival, intake and handling of harvested fruit, ensuring compliance with cool-chain and food safety protocols and maintaining the integrity of fruit quality from orchard to coolstore. The role has a strong focus on cool-chain management, intake logistics, and staff supervision, and is directly influenced by seasonal conditions, weather and crop maturity.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and supervise all inwards fruit receival processes, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant intake into the system
• Coordinate the organisation of the inwards coolstore area, including stock flow, space allocation, and temperature compliance
• Oversee pulp temperature checks, hydrocooling protocols, and cool chain monitoring, escalating issues to management when required
• Develop and manage rosters for inwards staff; supervise daily activities, provide training and coaching, and monitor performance
• Ensure accurate recording and reporting of fruit movements, temperature logs, grower returns (bins/buckets), and intake data
• Liaise with Production and Operations Managers to align intake capacity with harvest volumes and packing schedules
• Oversee forklift operations for efficient loading/unloading of fruit and return of empty bins and buckets
• Lead and promote health & safety and compliance practices within the inwards team; complete hazard assessments and incident reporting
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives in fruit receival, hydrocooling, and coolstore operations
  
  

Minimum requirements

• At least 2 seasons (five months) experience in a relevant role
• Experience applying cool-chain protocols, including pulp temperature monitoring and intake compliance
• Knowledge of fruit quality standards, cool chain requirements and traceability
• Skills specific to the understanding of cherry fruit management and handling
• Experience managing seasonal teams in a fast-paced environment
• Effective communication skills for working across operations, growers, and seasonal staff
• Familiarity with health and safety requirements in logistics or warehouse/coolstore settings
• Intermediate level of experience with Excel/Outlook
• Preferable experience with FreshPack Software
• Current forklift license
  
  

Job Details

Term: fixed-term, 3 November 2025 – end of harvest or 28 February 2026 (whichever is sooner)
Pay Rate: $36 per hour
Hours: Depending on harvest conditions, minimum 30 hours per week, maximum 50 hours per week hours of work will be per a roster Monday to Sunday between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm. You may be required to work Statutory Holidays and must be available to work the whole harvest period.

Full Job Description can be provided on request.

Please apply with your CV, including 2 x references.

Applications close on 17.10.2025.