Team Leader | Produce

• Are you passionate about working in a dynamic environment?
• Do you enjoy working with your hands and thrive in a fast-paced setting?

At Service Foods, we're looking for an experienced Team Lead to oversee the night operations of our Produce Department in Tāmaki Makaurau.

 If you have a strong understanding of fresh produce handling, quality control, warehouse operations, and people leadership, we'd love to hear from you.

The Opportunity

This hands-on leadership role will see you play a pivotal part in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of our Produce facility. You will lead a dedicated team while maintaining high standards of freshness, quality, food safety, and customer service. You will be responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of the Produce night shift, including picking, packing, dispatch, inventory management, and team performance.

Position Snapshot

• Location: Ihumātao Road, Māngere
• Immediate start
• Permanent, full time employment
• Days: Sunday to Friday
• Shift: 4:30/5:00 pm to 1:30 am

The Role

As the Produce Team Lead, you will be responsible for leading the night shift team and ensuring warehouse operations are completed safely, accurately, and efficiently. Key responsibilities include:

• Work closely with the Head of Produce to support resource planning, task allocation, workflow improvements, and continuous operational improvement initiatives.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and support the Produce Warehouse Pick Packing team to achieve operational and customer service targets.
• Supervise daily warehouse operations, including picking, packing, replenishment, dispatch, inventory control, quality assurance, logistics, and floor productivity.
• Ensure the highest standards of produce freshness, quality, presentation, food safety, and hygiene are maintained at all times.
• Monitor and inspect product quality before packaging and dispatch.
• Implement and maintain FIFO stock rotation practices and ensure stock locations remain accurate.
• Manage and minimise stock discrepancies, stock returns, quarantined goods, picking errors, and load-out mistakes.
• Coordinate daily workflow and roster coverage to maximise operational efficiency and labour utilisation.
• Assist with stocktakes, inventory management, and end-of-night market list requirements.
• Maintain cleanliness and organisation throughout the Produce warehouse and surrounding areas to protect food safety standards and company reputation.
• Conduct regular checks of equipment, tools, and machinery and coordinate maintenance requirements as needed.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.
• Ensure all team members comply with company policies, health and safety requirements, and food safety procedures.
• Identify workplace hazards and promote safe working practices across all warehouse operations.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Proven leadership experience within a Fresh Produce, FMCG, Warehousing, Logistics, or Distribution environment.
• Strong communication, leadership, problem-solving, and team-building skills.
• Sound knowledge of warehouse operations, inventory management, dispatch, and quality control processes.
• A commitment to food safety, quality assurance, and health and safety best practice.
• The ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Confidence using warehouse technology, inventory management systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong literacy and numeracy capabilities.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

This is a hands-on operational role requiring:

• The ability to work in a cold storage environment.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of produce and warehouse stock.
• Repetitive manual handling tasks, including picking, packing, sorting, and stacking products.
• Prolonged periods of standing, walking, bending, reaching, and moving throughout the warehouse.
• The ability to work permanent night shift hours and effectively lead a team during overnight operations.

Essential Requirements

• Current Forklift Licence.
• Physically fit and capable of undertaking manual handling duties.
• Strong understanding of warehouse operations and procedures.

Why Join Service Foods?

At Service Foods, you'll be part of a growing New Zealand business that values teamwork, quality, and customer service. This is an opportunity to lead an essential operation, develop your leadership career, and make a meaningful contribution to a high-performing team.

Eligibility: Applicants must be a New Zealand Citizen, Resident, or hold a valid New Zealand work visa.

Pre-Employment Checks: Successful applicants will be required to complete satisfactory pre-employment checks, including:

• Employment reference checks
• Ministry of Justice checks
• ACC checks
• Drug and alcohol testing

If you're a motivated leader with a passion for fresh produce, operational excellence, and team success, apply now and join the Service Foods whānau.