Workforce and Compliance Manager

Our client is a well-established Hawke's Bay business looking to appoint a Workforce & Compliance Manager to support packhouse and wider operational activities.
 
This is a hands-on, influential role with responsibility across workforce leadership, health & safety, and compliance systems. It suits someone who thrives in seasonal environments, enjoys being close to operations, and can balance people, systems, and regulatory requirements with confidence.
 
About the Role
This position provides leadership across:

• Health & Safety systems and practices within the packhouse and support across field, harvest and farming operations
• Compliance and audit readiness, including packhouse standards, Global G.A.P, and RSE programme requirements
• Seasonal workforce planning and recruitment, including interviewing, onboarding and coordination of labour needs
• Day-to-day workforce management across the packhouse, including oversight of a small RSE team and contractors
• Stakeholder relationships, including MSD work brokers and labour providers

During the peak export season (late December/January - April), the role is operationally focused, ensuring workforce and contractor deployment supports production, shipping, quality, and safety requirements.

Outside of peak season, the focus shifts to planning, system improvement, compliance management, audit preparation, and recruitment readiness for the following season.
 
You'll work closely with packhouse, field and management teams, alongside the Packing Supervisor who leads machinery and line operations.
 
About You
You'll be practical, organised, and calm under pressure, with experience in environments where people, compliance and operations intersect.
 
You're likely to bring:

• Experience in horticulture, packhouse, food production, or seasonal operations
• Strong understanding of health & safety and compliance systems
• Proven ability to manage seasonal and diverse workforces
• Confidence coordinating labour, contractors, and external stakeholders
• A hands-on leadership style with clear communication skills
• Strong planning capability and attention to detail

Why This Role?

• Key leadership role with real autonomy and influence
• Opportunity to shape systems, processes and team culture
• Seasonal variety - operational delivery in peak, improvement and planning off-season
• Supportive, grounded business with strong operational focus
• Scope to grow the role over time based on capability and interest

All applications are required to be accompanied by a cover letter and a copy of your current CV.
 
Applicants must be a NZ Resident/Citizen or have a valid NZ work permit. Offshore applicants may not necessarily be replied to.
 
EQUIP Recruitment - Specialising in Permanent, Temporary and International roles