Assists Orchard Manager to plan, organise, control, co-ordinate and perform farming operations to grow fruit and nuts. May perform routine tasks on a fruit or nut farm such as cultivating and fertilising soil, and planting, irrigating and pruning crops. May spray chemicals on crops to treat disease and pests.

• Supervises staff to plant using hand tools and farm machines; build trellises for climbing plants and vines; operate machines to cultivate, fertilise, spray and harvest fruit and nuts; spray trees, vines and other plants with chemicals to control weed growth, insects, fungus growth and diseases; thin, weeds and hoes row crops, and prunes trees and vines; irrigates land for crop growth; select and pick fruit and nuts according to size and ripeness, and discard rotting and over-ripened produce; grade, sort and pack produce into containers; load filled fruit and nut containers onto trucks.

• Works outside in tree or fruit orchards in most weather conditions and indoors in glasshouse environments or packing sheds.
• Occasionally to frequently works in dirty, wet or dusty conditions depending upon the season, weather and growing conditions and proportion of supervisory to “hands-on” requirements of the specific position.
• The use of horticultural pesticides and fertilisers is likely to be occasional to frequent (unless there is an organic philosophy at the site) and may irritate the skin and aggravate breathing problems such as asthma or hay-fever. Protective clothing and breathing apparatus should be utilised.

• Light to medium physical demand level depending upon the proportion of supervisory to “hands-on” requirements of the specific position.
• Stands and walks frequently unless driving machinery. Stretching up or across is likely to be frequently to constantly required when picking or pruning trees depending upon the proportion of supervisory to “hands-on” requirements of the specific position.
• Climbing fruit picking ladders or working from mechanically operated elevated platforms is likely for tree-grown crops. Frequently squats, crouches or kneels when planting new trees or bushes, or picking low growing fruit such as strawberries.
• Twisting of the body or neck is likely on an occasional to frequent basis.
• Bends frequently and this may be constant for some picking activities.
• Heavy lifting and carrying of bags of fertiliser, seeds and harvested crops, is likely to be intermittent, but may occur for prolonged periods at times such as harvesting.
• Repetitive movements are likely to be frequent when pruning and picking.
• Driving or machine operation of specialised orchard spraying or picking platforms and rotary hoes is likely to be frequent. Use of hand tools is likely to be constant.
• Mental skills necessary include communication, organisational, horticultural, technical and practical skills.

An NZQF Level 1 qualification, or compulsory secondary education (ANZSCO Skill Level 5).

For some occupations a short period of on-the-job training may be required in addition to or instead of the formal qualification. In some instances no formal qualification or on-the-job training may be required.

• There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.