CONTRACTING & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
About The Role
As Contracting and Maintenance Supervisor, you’ll play a hands-on role in keeping LeaderBrand’s Gisborne farming operations running safely, smoothly and efficiently. You’ll lead the delivery of farm maintenance, civil works and development projects, ensuring the infrastructure that supports our crops is reliable, accessible and production-ready.
This is a practical, fast-paced role where you’ll be out in the field every day—coordinating machinery, trucks and contractors, leading operators, and solving real-time challenges. From maintaining tracks and drainage through to supporting development projects and responding to weather events, you’ll ensure the farm is set up for success.
Working closely with Farm Management and alongside cross-functional teams (including production, irrigation, groundwork, planting and harvesting), you’ll help maintain safe access, effective water movement, and high site presentation standards across the operation.
Key responsibilities include:
- Planning and coordinating daily farm maintenance, civil works and contracting activities
- Maintaining and repairing tracks, accessways, drainage systems, culverts and general infrastructure
- Leading drainage, mowing and site presentation to ensure safe and tidy operational areas
- Responding to weather impacts, access issues and operational priorities to keep the farm running smoothly
- Supporting and delivering development projects, including planning resources, sequencing work and supervising contractors
- Coordinating machinery, trucks and materials to support both maintenance and project work
- Promoting safe work practices and ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental standards
- Communicating clearly with teams on daily priorities, progress and any risks or issues
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys leading from the front, takes pride in practical work, and thrives in a dynamic farming environment where no two days are the same.
About You
Qualifications & Experience
- Relevant tertiary qualification, trade background or practical experience in civil construction, farm contracting, earthworks, drainage, infrastructure maintenance or a related field preferred.
- 5+ years’ experience in civil works, farm maintenance, earthworks, drainage, contracting, machinery-based operations or development project delivery.
- Strong hands-on civil experience including excavator operation, drainage work, track construction/repair, grading, mowing, cartage and general earthworks.
- Strong understanding of health and safety, contractor management, environmental, food safety and compliance requirements.
- Current New Zealand driver licence with appropriate heavy vehicle licence class for trucks operated; Class 4 or Class 5 licence and WTR endorsement strongly preferred.
Core Skills & Competencies
- Confident practical decision-maker with strong problem-solving ability, field judgement and resourcefulness.
- Detail-focused with the ability to identify track, drainage, access, machinery, site presentation and civil-work quality issues early.
- Strong supervisory and communication skills for working with operators, managers, contractors, suppliers and external stakeholders.
- Strong time management, prioritisation and ability to perform under seasonal pressure, weather events and changing operational demands.
- Collaborative team player able to guide staff, coordinate multiple work fronts and contribute to a positive work environment.
- Outcome-driven, using sound judgement to support safe access, reliable infrastructure, project delivery, productivity and business success.
- Adaptable, hands-on and comfortable managing changing priorities, breakdowns, weather impacts, project constraints and urgent farm maintenance needs.
Desirable:
- Class 5 heavy vehicle licence and strong truck-and-trailer operating experience.
- WTR endorsement with proven excavator, loader, roller and other heavy machinery competency.
- Experience with laser levels, GPS-guided equipment, drainage plans, farm maps, survey information or civil project documentation.
- Traffic management, confined space, working around services or other relevant civil construction training.
- Competence in machinery maintenance, attachment set-up, fault-finding and troubleshooting.
- Familiarity with health & safety systems, pre-starts, incident reporting, contractor management and project risk assessments.
- First Aid certification.
About LeaderBrand
At LeaderBrand, we’re passionate about evolving fresh food for a healthier world. As a proud family-owned business, our goal is to be New Zealand’s most innovative and consistent fresh food producer. We farm across three key growing regions, process and pack in state-of-the-art post-harvest facilities, and are supported by a nationwide sales team delivering fresh produce to every corner of Aotearoa. Our 400+ people are central to our success. We’re always on the lookout for new talent with energy, passion, and a drive to learn – people excited to help shape the future of fresh food.
Gisborne is the heart of our business and the place where LeaderBrand was founded more than 50 years ago. Over that time, LeaderBrand has become integral to the story of our community, with the next generations of those who started with us returning to shape the future alongside us. We also have farms in Pukekohe and Chertsey.
We have a strong vision for the future of our business, our people, and our industry. We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Our continuous improvement mindset grounds us as one of New Zealand’s leading horticultural businesses. We seek, harness, and develop the best people, technology, land, and machinery to shape the future of food.
