Avocado Grower Services Manager

Who We Are

DMS is a proudly locally owned and operated orchard

management and post-harvest company based in the Bay of Plenty. Our purpose is

simple: “Increasing Grower Profit.” With state-of-the-art packhouses in

Te Puna and Te Puke, we’re consistently ranked among the top performers in

kiwifruit and avocado packing and coolstore operations.

Our people are what make DMS special — we’re collaborative,

professional, and passionate about what we do.

Our Values:

Together We Achieve | Positive Attitude | Show Initiative |

Passion for Success | Consistent Customer Focus | Our People’s Wellbeing.

The Role

We’re looking for an *experienced and motivated Avocado

• Grower Services Manager to join our avocado team.
• Reporting to the GM Avocados, you’ll play a key role across
• our avocado operation, working closely with growers, contractors, the avocado
• team and Te Puna packhouse to ensure our orchards, harvest and fruit supply are
• well coordinated and operating effectively.

This is a broad, hands-on role covering grower

relationships, orchard management, contractor coordination, harvest planning,

maturity testing, fruit flow, bin control and trucking logistics, as well as

supporting technical, industry and compliance requirements.

You’ll need to be comfortable moving between the office,

orchards and packhouse, working with growers and contractors one minute and

getting involved in practical tasks the next. During the main kiwifruit packing

season, generally March to June, you’ll also support Te Puna kiwifruit

operations as required.

What You’ll Be Doing

Manage

relationships with allocated avocado growers, working closely with the GM

Avocados and wider avocado team.

Maintain

regular communication with growers and ensure their requirements are

understood, communicated and followed through.

Build

and develop grower relationships and actively identify opportunities for

new avocado growers to pack with DMS.

Coordinate

orchard activities across DMS-managed and leased orchards, ensuring work

is completed at the right time to support production and harvest.

Coordinate

orchard and harvest contractors, including scheduling, appointments,

inductions, compliance and day-to-day requirements.

Prepare

and coordinate weekly avocado picking schedules and determine orchard

picking order in line with crop maturity, volumes, market requirements and

packhouse capacity.

Coordinate

fruit flow to Te Puna, including local and export market requirements.

Coordinate

bin requirements and movements and organise trucking and transport

logistics.

Coordinate

and monitor fruit maturity testing to support appropriate harvest timing

and efficient fruit flow.

Monitor

harvest progress, orchard conditions and operational requirements and

adjust plans as required.

Maintain

an understanding of Avogreen and orchard spraying requirements.

Apply

technical avocado and horticultural knowledge, including spray programmes,

fertiliser requirements and soil, leaf and water testing and analysis.

Support

industry, quality, food safety and Health & Safety requirements across

orchard and harvest operations.

Ensure

contractors are appropriately inducted and meet DMS and relevant Health

& Safety requirements.

Visit

orchards regularly and work with growers and contractors to identify and

address operational requirements.

Get

involved in practical orchard work when required, including ground

picking, fertiliser spreading and assisting growers with other tasks.

Drive

a ute and trailer as required.

Work

closely with the Te Puna packhouse to ensure harvest and fruit supply

requirements are aligned with packing operations.

Support

Te Puna kiwifruit packing operations during the main kiwifruit season as

required.

Assist

the GM Avocados and wider DMS management team with projects,

problem-solving and other operational priorities.

Respond

to changing weather, crop, grower, contractor and operational requirements

and adjust priorities accordingly.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for someone with solid experience in avocado,

horticulture or a closely related operational environment who understands that

successful orchard and harvest operations rely on good planning, strong

relationships and being prepared to get involved.

You’ll bring:

Proven

experience in avocado, horticulture, orchard management or a related

agricultural environment.

Strong

knowledge of avocado production, orchard operations and harvest processes.

Experience

working directly with growers and building strong, professional

relationships.

Experience

coordinating contractors, harvest crews and other operational resources.

Strong

understanding of harvest planning, fruit maturity, fruit flow and

logistics.

Good

knowledge of orchard spraying, fertiliser requirements and general

horticultural practices.

Strong

planning, organisation and time management skills.

Excellent

communication skills and confidence dealing with growers, contractors,

suppliers and internal teams.

The

ability to make decisions, solve problems and respond calmly when

priorities change.

A

practical, hands-on approach and willingness to get involved in

operational and physical tasks when required.

Good

computer literacy and the ability to maintain accurate records and

documentation.

A

strong commitment to Health & Safety, quality and compliance.

A

full NZ driver licence and confidence driving a ute and trailer.

Flexibility

with hours and priorities during peak seasonal periods.

It would be great if you also have:

Experience

managing or supporting avocado orchards.

Existing

relationships and knowledge within the avocado industry.

Experience

with Avogreen, GlobalG.A.P. or other horticultural compliance

requirements.

Experience

with avocado maturity testing and harvest planning.

Experience

coordinating local and export market fruit flows.

Experience

working across both orchard and packhouse operations.

Technical

knowledge relating to soil, leaf and water testing, fertiliser programmes

and crop management.

Why Join DMS?

*Make

a real impact – play a key role in managing grower relationships and

coordinating the avocado operation from orchard through to packhouse.

*Variety

throughout the year – work across avocado orchard and harvest

operations, with involvement in our Te Puna kiwifruit packing season.

*Be

part of the full operation – this isn't a role limited to one area;

you'll work across growers, orchards, contractors, harvest, logistics and

packhouse operations.

*Work

with experienced people – join a well-established team with strong

industry knowledge and relationships.

*Locally

owned and operated – be part of a successful Bay of Plenty business

with strong grower and industry relationships.

*Opportunity

to make the role your own* – work closely with the GM Avocados and

contribute to the continued development of our avocado business.

If you’re an experienced avocado or horticultural

professional who enjoys working with growers, coordinating operations and

solving problems, we’d love to hear from you.

Join DMS and play a key role in delivering successful

orchard, harvest and packing outcomes for our growers and customers.

Apply today!