Quality has a pretty important job at T&G

We grow, pack and market some of New Zealand’s best-known apples and pears, and behind every box that makes its way to a customer is a whole lot of work to make sure it meets the standard we’ve promised.

That’s where you come in.

We’re looking for a Regional Quality Manager to lead quality across our Nelson region. You’ll be the regional face of Quality, working across T&G’s own operations and a network of independent packhouses to make sure our fruit is packed consistently, meets customer and market requirements, and is right first time.

It’s a role with plenty of variety. One day you might be reviewing quality data and improving a process, the next you’re on the road inspecting fruit, working with a packhouse on a quality issue or making a call that puts product on hold until you’re confident it’s right.

You’ll need the confidence to make the call, but just as importantly, the ability to explain it in a way that gets people with you.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll take ownership of the regional quality programme, working closely with our Post-Harvest and Quality & Technical teams, packhouse teams, growers and service providers.

That includes:

• Leading quality across T&G and independent packhouses throughout the Nelson region.

• Building strong relationships with packhouse managers and teams, while maintaining the standards expected of T&G and our customers.

• Developing and embedding quality processes that improve consistency, efficiency and right-first-time outcomes.

• Monitoring fruit quality, grade standards, customer specifications and regulatory requirements.

• Analysing quality information and data to identify trends, issues and opportunities, then turning that into practical recommendations.

• Investigating quality issues, following them through the process and making clear decisions about corrective action.

• Working with packhouses when product needs to be held, reworked or otherwise managed to protect quality and customer outcomes.

• Making sure cool-chain, food safety, market access and audit requirements are being met.

• Leading and developing a small team of permanent and seasonal quality people who are out in the region doing the hands-on checks and inspections.

• Preparing for each season by reviewing processes, writing and improving SOPs, and finding better ways of working.

• Supporting the wider T&G Pipfruit team to continuously improve how we manage quality across the business.

What makes this role interesting?

• A role with regional impact: You’ll work across a network of T&G and independent packhouses, helping maintain consistent quality outcomes across the South Island.

• A mix of people, process and product: You’ll spend time in packhouses, working with teams on the ground as well as using quality data to identify trends, opportunities and areas for improvement.

• Influence without always having direct control: Success will come from building strong relationships, communicating clearly and helping teams understand the standards and the reasons behind them.

• Real decision-making: You’ll have an important role in assessing product, identifying quality risks and making recommendations that support both customer requirements and the commercial needs of the business.

• A chance to improve how we work: From reviewing processes and SOPs through to seasonal planning and continuous improvement, there’s plenty of scope to make a practical difference.

What will you bring?

We’re interested in people who have a strong quality background and know how to make quality systems work in the real world.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Experience working in a quality, technical, compliance or assurance environment.

• A solid understanding of quality systems, including experience developing, improving or working within formal quality processes.

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data, identify issues and make sound recommendations.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills. You can have a difficult conversation without making it more difficult than it needs to be.

• Confidence making decisions and standing behind them, particularly when there are commercial or operational pressures involved.

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of people and businesses.

• Excellent attention to detail. There’s a lot of information, product and moving parts to keep across.

• The ability to work autonomously, organise yourself and stay calm when things get busy.

Experience in pipfruit, horticulture, agriculture, food, wine, dairy, seafood or another primary production environment would be valuable.

You don’t necessarily need to be an apple expert on day one. If you have the right quality systems experience, commercial judgement and people skills, we can teach you the fruit.

And what about T&G?

We’re a pretty diverse bunch, but there are a few things we have in common. We like people who take ownership, care about doing a good job and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.

You’ll be joining a team that has a genuine opportunity to make things better. There’s plenty of scope to improve processes, build capability and shape how quality operates across the Nelson region.

We’re also big on developing our people. This role gives you the chance to build your leadership experience, work across a broad network of stakeholders and become a key part of our wider Post-Harvest and Quality & Technical team.

And you’ll be working with some pretty good fruit along the way.

If you’re a quality professional who enjoys being close to the operation, building relationships and making things better, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now.

Proof of eligibility to work in New Zealand is required for all applicants and any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory drug test, credit check, driver licence check, and security check.

We want T&G to be a place where everyone is accepted, respected and celebrated for who they are – regardless of our similarities or differences. It’s essential that everyone can be themselves and thrive, and that together we create a diverse and vibrant workplace.