About the role
The Racking Supervisor leads Southward's installation work across the Bay of Plenty. Your purpose is to establish and manage a site workforce capable of installing new projects safely and diligently, to the highest possible standard, on time, and in line with predetermined cost. You will run the job on site: reading the drawings, planning the work, organising people, materials and equipment, and making sure every racking, cantilever and mezzanine system is built to standard. From the Port of Tauranga's industrial and logistics catchment to the region's packhouses and coolstores, the Bay of Plenty is a busy and growing market, and this role is Southward's face on the ground there. This is a hands-on leadership role. We are looking for someone who installs to a high standard themselves, keeps a crew safe and productive, and communicates clearly with customers, sub-contractors, and the office.
Key responsibilities
Supervise Southward installation staff and external sub-contractors on BOP project sites
Lead, motivate, communicate with, develop, appraise and performance-manage staff so the team performs at its best and meets the company's needs
Install racking, cantilever and mezzanine systems according to applicable standards, drawings and instructions
Carry out repairs and maintenance to steel racking systems to applicable standards, drawings and instructions, as required
Study job instructions (job cards, drawings, instructions) to fully understand the work requirements before each job
Ensure all tools, equipment and resources required for installation work are identified and loaded
Coordinate and assign tasks to team members (labour and materials) on site so targets are met
Carry out spot-checks and regular controls on work completed by the team to ensure safety and quality standards are maintained
Communicate with the client to establish site-specific health and safety standards, and ensure all staff are inducted on site and aware of the client's H&S requirements
Ensure staff follow safety regulations and standards appropriate to their tasks to minimise accidents and injuries
About you
Proven experience installing pallet racking, cantilever and/or mezzanine systems
Experience leading or supervising a site crew, including sub-contractors
Able to read and work accurately from layout drawings, job cards and installation instructions
Strong health and safety mindset — you run a safe site and hold others to the same standard
Organised and reliable, with the discipline to plan jobs, manage materials and keep paperwork up to date
Clear, professional communicator with customers, suppliers, and the office team
Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Bay of Plenty
Full New Zealand driver's licence
Desirable: Current forklift (F endorsement) and elevating work platform (EWP) licences
Desirable: Site Safe passport and current first aid certificate
About us
Southward Warehouse Automation is a New Zealand-based specialist in commercial shelving, racking, and large-scale industrial storage solutions. We work directly with warehouse operators, manufacturers, logistics businesses, and commercial tenants to design, install, and service storage environments that improve space utilisation, operational efficiency, and workflow — from the ground up. Our vision is to be recognised as one of the leading providers of racking in New Zealand. We will achieve this by consistently giving our customers the best products and service at the most competitive price, offering outside-the-square solutions, providing outstanding back-up to our sales team by consistently delivering and installing product to specification and on time, and providing superior after-sales auditing and servicing of new and existing racking.