Operations Director

Lead, Innovate, and Inspire! Mānuka Health is on a mission to become the leading Mānuka honey company globally, powered by a high-performing team of passionate individuals and approximately 1.5 billion bees. At the heart of their success is a culture of care for people, products, communities, and the planet.

As part of their ambitious growth strategy, Mānuka Health is seeking an exceptional Operations Director to join their Senior Executive Team. This pivotal role will lead operational functions across their vertically integrated business – from beekeeping and land management to extraction, processing, packing, testing, and delivering trusted New Zealand bee products to over 45 countries worldwide.

About the Role

As Operations Director, you will:

• Translate strategic direction into operational execution across Supply Chain, Apiculture, Health & Safety, and Customer Service.
• Champion continuous improvement, risk management, and operational governance while ensuring customer commitments are consistently delivered.
• Build high-performing teams that foster accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Act as the executive owner of Health & Safety, embedding a proactive safety culture that protects employees, contractors, visitors, and customers.
• Drive environmentally sustainable practices aligned with Manuka Health’s values.

What You’ll Bring

The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader who:

• Leads with an enterprise mindset and builds trust through authentic leadership.
• Thrives in solving complex challenges collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Models accountability and inspires others to achieve results.
• Champions innovation and fosters a culture of learning.
• Has proven experience in operational strategy development and execution at scale.

Why Join Mānuka Health?

• You’ll be part of a purpose-driven organisation committed to bettering people and the planet.
• You’ll work in a dynamic environment where your ideas matter and your leadership drives meaningful change.
• You’ll have the opportunity to grow professionally while contributing to New Zealand’s globally recognised Mānuka honey industry.

Location

This role is set to be based in Te Awamutu, Waikato, offering the chance to work in one of New Zealand’s most vibrant rural hubs while driving global impact.

Values

At Mānuka Health, we live by our values:

• Collaborate & Succeed Together
• Care Deeply
• Be Extraordinary
• Deliver Excellence

Ready to Lead? Apply Today!

If you’re ready to take on this exciting challenge and help shape the future of Mānuka Health, we’d love to hear from you.

Robert Walters endeavours to review all applications in a maximum of five working days. If you have not received correspondence in this timeframe please do not hesitate to contact Joe Walding-Karaitiana on +64 9 374 7351.