Associate Director

Nature and scope of Horticulture New Zealand :

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) is the pan sector organisation for New Zealand’s commercial fruit and vegetable growers. Affiliated with HortNZ are horticulture’s product groups and district associations. HortNZ is a levy funded by commercial growers and our focus is on key strategic challenges including environment, risk, and workforce 

Our Aspiration:     Healthy food for all forever
Our Vision:           To create an enduring environment where growers thrive
Our Purpose:        Leadership, advocacy and influence for grower success  

HortNZ’s Board has nine directors: seven are elected by growers and two independents are appointed by the Board. 

The HortNZ Board meets up to six times a year in Wellington and around New Zealand’s growing areas and holds in-between meetings via zoom.

The skill set of the HortNZ Board is a mix of knowledge and experience. Specifically, the board is seeking interest from those growers who may have capability in the areas of Te Ao Māori, finance, risk management (including biosecurity), science, technology & innovation, education, training and skills and corporate law and governance (in no particular order).

Associate Director 
This is a development opportunity for a future industry leader to join the HortNZ Board and gain experience in governance, leadership, and strategy.  This will build on the future leader’s current horticulture experience and prepare the successful applicant for governance roles in the horticulture sector. The role will also give the Associate Director the opportunity to be mentored by an experienced Director of their choice and undertake governance training.

This is a non-voting role however the Board seeks full participation in meetings and will welcome constructive contributions from the Associate Director in the workings of the Board.

Term
The term of appointment is for an 18-month period (July 2025 – December 2026), which provides an opportunity to settle in and actively participate in a full year of operations. 

Remuneration 
There is a per-diem rate of $320.00 per day (plus travel and reasonable expenses).  

Skills  
•   Active involvement in a horticultural enterprise giving an understanding of the issues and challenges that   horticulture and growers face.
•   Strategic thinker with the motivation to learn and develop the skills necessary for governance. The HortNZ board upholds the Institute of Directors four pillars of governance, and this will be the platform that underpins the role – determining organisational purpose; ensuring an effective organisational culture; holding to management to account and effective compliance. 
•   Ability to interpret reports – financial, operational and technical. 

Attributes 
•    Empathy for the interests of horticulture growers and their aspirations.
•    Analytical abilities with a pragmatic approach.
•    The ability to communicate with logic and be persuasive in debate, respectful and concise.
•    Able to argue effectively for their views but also accommodate the need for Board consensus.
•    Enquiring type of character who probes the facts and challenges assumptions.
•    The willingness to develop their skills.
•    Comfortable and happy to develop industry wide relationships for the betterment of the industry
•    Be able to display sound judgement and common sense.
•    Conflicts of interests are declared and able to be managed.
•    Ability to discern sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
•    The ability to manage their existing workload and deadlines to accommodate the board work.
•    A strong sense of ethics and what is right.
•    A belief in the activities that HortNZ is tasked with.
•    A desire to make a difference.

Other requirements 
Applicants must have the support of their employer (if not self-employed) before applying for this opportunity and will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

For any questions please contact: 
Kate Longman, GM Engagement 
[email protected] 
0297709874

Apply for this position by Friday 16 May 2025.