Te Tūranga/About the Role

Our team at Hokitika have a highly influential operations role for a person experienced in production management within the food processing industry. This role is accountable for all production on site and ensures the site produces the products our global customers demand. You will help to lead a culture that embraces and values respect, accountability, and integrity, growing our people and building their capabilities. 

Silver Fern Farms Hokitika is based in a small rural community on the west coast of the South Island. We are a friendly and caring team of approximately 130 staff in the peak season and this role is a member of the site leadership team. 

The successful candidate will be an experienced leader with passion for achieving high performance and continuous improvement within a team environment

Te Mahi/Key Responsibilities

• Providing leadership direction to the site to achieve daily production targets whilst developing a positive team culture
• Review daily production performance, investigate and provide corrective actions with department leaders when required
• Understand food safety and quality requirements, and how these apply to your team
• Build an uncompromising safety culture 
• Champion continuous improvement and encourage team members to find new ideas to improve work practices

Ōu Pūkenga/About You

The successful candidate will be experienced as a leader within the meat processing industry and ideally have specific skills around training and developing relationships with their team. They will demonstrate experience with developing and driving team culture through leading by example and have a solid understanding of standard production processes and principles.

• Previous leadership experience, preferably within a food processing site 
• Proven ability in performance management 
• A sound knowledge of the processing requirements of a modern food processing plant 
• Organised, with strong communication, delegation and problem-solving abilities 
• A rigorous commitment to quality and compliance 
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally 
• Successful experience with influencing others and proactively driving a strong culture that aligns with the Silver Fern Farms values – Unstoppable Together, Improving Tomorrow and Always Caring
• Knowledge of employee relations principles and confident with assisting your Leaders with workforce management
• Excellent knowledge of regulatory and hygiene compliance requirements and issues
• Competent to an intermediate/high level in Excel/Word/PowerPoint/Outlook

Te Ahurea/Why work for Silver Fern Farms?

Silver Fern Farms are all about Creating Goodness from the Farms the World Needs. Creating goodness is about taking a broader view of what goodness means, how we can create it and the impact it can have. That Goodness is created through the work of our People, the skill & expertise of our Farmers and our customers around the globe. ‘Goodness’ is also about being good to people and communities, animal welfare, and showing care and respect for the environment. 

For you, we offer discounted staff meat sales, paid sick leave from the date of employment (no waiting for the 6 month anniversary required), subsidised health insurance, and confidential employee assistance with career planning, financial advice and counselling.  There’s the bonus of free on-site parking and uniform provided. 

Tono Mai/How to Apply

Click on ‘Apply’ below to submit your application. We assess applications as they are received so don’t delay. 

Silver Fern Farms welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life. We are proud to have a diverse and inclusive environment and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all team members and applicants. Come and create goodness together with us.