Mushroom Harvesting Manager
The deciding facts
- Compensation
- £40,000 to £50,000 per year
- Work arrangement
- On-site, full time
- Location
- Holme-on-spalding-moor
- Work authorisation
- Employer sponsors work authorisation
- Employment type
- Full Time
- Interview stages
- 3 before an offer: apply, TaaSFlow review, employer interviews
- Posted
- 27 October 2026 · 8 days ago
About the role
Mushroom Harvesting Manager Location: Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, East Yorkshire, UK (100% onsite) Reporting to: Operations Director Manages: Harvesters, Placers and Harvesting Supervisors
About Us
Hughes Mushrooms is a family-run mushroom grower and packer based in East Yorkshire, operating 24/7 from our Howden site. We supply leading customers and are continuously developing value-added products and new ranges. We're looking for an experienced harvesting leader to run our picking operation.
Job Purpose
To manage the harvesting of our mushroom crops in a careful and efficient way, hitting the pick rates and quality the business needs. You will plan and organise the growing houses, develop the skills of our pickers, placers and supervisors, and own training, health and safety, and food safety across the harvesting operation.
Key Responsibilities
Harvest Planning and Yields Assess the crop in each house daily and make sure the right manning and plans are in place for anticipated yields. Complete manning plans for the growing rooms and organise agency staff when required. Attend the daily operations meeting to plan people, yields, houses and hours for the following day. Plan picking against packhouse and sales requirements so customer orders are fulfilled. Make sure graze picking is carried out properly to maximise yield and quality.
Quality and Performance Ensure picking quality and quantity meet per-hour targets for every picker. Make sure product is presented to the highest standard, with particular focus on weights, sizing, stem length, punnet identification and capping. Monitor and evaluate picking statistics on an ongoing basis, make sure every harvester achieves minimum targets, and use the disciplinary procedure where necessary.
People Leadership Train, coach and mentor pickers and supervisors to reach the desired pick rates. Make decisions on staffing, recruitment and people planning. Encourage positive, cohesive teamwork to hit daily picking targets. Work with the Harvesting Team Leaders, Harvesting Supervisors, Growing Manager, Production Manager and Engineering Manager on any issues with team members, yields or machinery.
Health, Safety and Food Safety Make sure new pickers and placers follow safe systems of work and safe operating procedures. Act as a member of the site's Food Safety, HACCP, TACCP and VACCP team. Make sure GMP, housekeeping (clean as you go), food safety legislation and company policies are strictly followed. Spot and fix any issues affecting the performance or safety of plant or equipment, and report issues to the Operations Director promptly.
Continuous Improvement Champion industry best practice and promote new technologies where applicable. Control and minimise waste, and play an active part in continuous improvement.
Requirements
Hands-on mushroom picking experience. Previous supervisory experience on a mushroom farm. Strong people management and communication skills, written and verbal. Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills. Good basic IT and numerical skills. A team player with a flexible approach to working hours. Previous experience as a Harvesting Manager in the mushroom industry, an Advanced Food Hygiene qualification and degree-level education are desirable.
Working Pattern
5 days out of 7 to suit the business, which operates 24/7. Overtime during peak periods and weekend work as required. 28 days holiday including bank holidays (holiday year April – March).
Languages
English (fluent)
Travel
None – fully site-based
Benefits and Perks
£40,000 – £50,000 annual salary Permanent, full-time contract 28 days holiday including bank holidays Workplace pension Visa sponsorship available for the right candidate Direct reporting line to the Operations Director Join a family-run business that invests in new technology and its people
Accessibility and Accommodations
If you need any adjustments during the application or interview process, let us know when you apply or contact the recruiter directly. We'll work with you to make the process accessible.
Equal Opportunity
Hughes Mushrooms is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and assess every candidate solely on their skills, experience and fit for the role.
What we need
- Hands-on mushroom picking experience
- Previous supervisory experience on a mushroom farm
- Strong people management and communication skills, written and verbal
- Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills
- Good basic IT and numerical skills
- Flexible approach to working hours, including weekends and peak overtime
Nice to have
- Previous experience as a Harvesting Manager in the mushroom industry
- Experience managing pick rates, manning plans and agency labour
- Food safety team experience (HACCP, TACCP, VACCP, BRC)
- Advanced Food Hygiene qualification
- Degree-level education
Responsibilities
Assess crop stages daily across growing houses to forecast yields and allocate picker manning accordingly. Organise daily growing room staffing plans and coordinate agency labour to align with packhouse schedules and customer orders. Lead daily operations planning meetings covering personnel, yields, house allocation, and shift hours. Oversee graze picking execution to optimise yield, mushroom sizing, and overall product quality. Monitor individual and team hourly picking rates, enforce minimum performance thresholds, and apply disciplinary action when needed. Ensure final product presentation aligns with specification standards, including stem length, sizing, weights, punnet identification, and capping. Train, coach, and mentor pickers, placers, and harvesting supervisors to drive continuous performance improvement. Enforce site food safety, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and clean-as-you-go protocols as an active member of HACCP, TACCP, and VACCP teams. Audit equipment and facility condition for safety and operational issues, escalating maintenance needs to engineering and the Operations Director.
Travel
None – fully site-based
How hiring works here
- 1Apply in under 8 minutes — share your details, upload your CV, and answer 5 short screening questions.
- 2TaaSFlow reviewers verify your fit against the role's requirements and preferred qualifications.
- 3Shortlisted candidates are introduced to Hughes Mushrooms within a few business days.
- When you hear from us
- A confirmation straight away, and a real decision on your application within five business days.
- If it is a no
- We tell you, in writing. We do not leave applications unanswered.
- Who sees your application
- TaaSFlow reviewers first. Hughes Mushrooms sees it only if you are shortlisted for this role.
- Tracking it
- Every stage is visible in your application tracker, with the next step named.