Skip to main content

Page loading completed.

Sign in or Create an account
Sign in or Create an account

Technician - Fixed Term (Approximately 12 months)

25/02/2026
27/03/2026
Fixed Term
Te Puke
Biotechnology & Genetics (Science & Technology),Horticulture (Farming, Animals & Conservation)

About The Kiwifruit Breeding Centre (KBC) 

Our vision at the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre is to deliver the world’s most irresistible, healthy fruit. For Good. Through accelerated research, better fruit and better outcomes - for our people, our regions, our planet.  

The Kiwifruit Breeding Centre is a 50/50 joint venture between The Bioeconomy Science Institute Limited and Zespri International. We work together to drive greater innovation in kiwifruit breeding and to create healthier, better tasting and more sustainability-focused varieties to create more value for Aotearoa, New Zealand. 

At KBC, we encourage the team to live by our K.I.W.I Values 

  • Be Keen – be positive, be proud and bring your best. 
  • Take the Initiative – have courage, get stuck in and enjoy your work. 
  • One Waka – pull together, achieve more, faster and trust and be trusted.  
  • Act with Integrity – respect each other, be open and honest and speak up. 

Job Description

Responsibilities

In the Field, the Technician will:

  • Lead or assist with routine tasks including, propagation of all kiwifruit seedlings, cuttings, grafts and monitoring of controls
  • Liaise with researchers and industry to ensure that best practice propagation methods are being used
  • Ensure efficiency in operational activities through the appropriate allocation or financial and staff resources
  • Preparation and labelling of seedlings for DNA testing, potting up, ensuring tracking accuracy and plant health as per our client contract
  • Organisation of all kiwifruit block plantings, ensuring accuracy in following block plans, scanning plant labels, creating plants in e-brida, putting up block tags post-planting
  • Field evaluation including but not limited to flowering, fruit counts, components of yield and bud browning
  • Crossing and pollination, including collection of male buds and pollen extraction, bagging of female parents
  • Apply sprays to control pests and diseases including plant monitoring
  • Routine Psa monitoring, including updating the database
  • Collection of preharvest data, fruit maturity screening, harvesting and harvest evaluation, and postharvest evaluation
  • Support for data handling and management including data collection, data entry into databases, software and hardware troubleshooting. Preparing files for the intermecs and tablets
  • Coordination and management of casual staff to ensure all field work is completed to critical seasonal timeframes during peak periods
  • Monitoring of cool stores
  • At times may be required to be accountable for a full time Technical Assistant and for casuals who may be assigned to assist with various activities
  • May be required to assist with other duties from time to time within the scope of this role

In the Laboratory, the Technician will:

  • Process test fruit samples as per client requests by communicating and collaborating with team members, Supervisor, Scientists, the wider KBC and PFR teams
  • Understand the client’s needs by having knowledge of their role, their expectations, and reasons for the request
  • Maintain consistency, accuracy and timeliness across all testing, measurements and data entry processes by following instructions and set, scientific protocols, at all times
  • Monitor all data inputs and highlighting anything ‘out of the ordinary’ including irregular or duplicate data
  • The technician may be required to work unsupervised at times

Desired Skills and Experience

To succeed in this position, you must have:

  • A relevant undergraduate tertiary qualification or equivalent technical experience in the horticultural, nursery production sector, ideally within the kiwifruit industry
  • Proven skills in plant propagation, monitoring, irrigation system, plant care, pest and disease, maintaining equipment and facility around the nursery, planning nursery production schedules (propagation, potting and planting)
  • Plant husbandry skills
  • A good understanding of laboratory and field science operations and the ability to conduct basic technical operations in the laboratory, nursery, fruit packing areas and orchard
  • A current Growsafe Certificate would be an advantage 
  • Proven interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to communicate directly, pro-actively and constructively with colleagues and direct reports
  • Proven organisational ability to manage tasks effectively to standards and deadlines
  • Experience and confidence in using Microsoft Office applications (i.e. Excel, Access), use of, or knowledge of, data devices including PDAs and tablets
  • The ability to contribute to data analysis and industry reporting
  • Be physically able to lift up to 20 kg and carry trays or crates of fruit, handling trollies and trailers with plants loaded following health and safety guidelines and safe lifting techniques.
  • The ability to contribute to, and support, initiatives and activities that will assist KBC to deliver its strategy and vision
  • The ability to work alone without direct supervision and to manage and supervise casual employees during peak periods
  • Available for work between 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday with flexibility to work longer hours during peak times including weekends.

Additional information:

  • Applicants must be eligible to work in New Zealand.

To Apply…

If you enjoy working in a fast-paced, fun, friendly, welcoming environment undertaking rewarding work, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close: 27 March 2026

Please note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so we may make an appointment before the closing date. We recommend applying as early as possible.

For a copy of the position description please email: People@next.kiwi

Apply
Link