JUMP TO CONTENT

South Island Rural Manager - ATR1074153

  1. Other
  2. Full-time

__jobinformationwidget.freetext.LocationText__

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

This vacancy has now expired. Please see similar roles below...

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for rural operations and environmental services?

Rentokil Rural and Environmental Services (RRES) is seeking a dynamic and strategic Rural Manager to lead our operations across the South Island of New Zealand. This is a fantastic opportunity to manage the day to day operations of a fantastic team, drive strategic growth, and build strong stakeholder partnerships within a market-leading organization.

About the Role:

Reporting to the National Rural Manager, the South Island Rural Manager will be crucial in leading Rentokil's Rural Operations based out of Pleasant Point Timaru, Mosgiel Dunedin, Hokitika, and many other localised contract locations around the region. RRES undertakes wide ranging pest control activities in the South Island including ground and air operations to monitor and control pest species including rabbits, possum, mustelids, pest plants, right up to feral ungulates like pigs, deer, goats and cattle.

With plenty of secured work ahead of us, you'll oversee and support the Operations Managers, Administration Team and Field Technicians to optimize service delivery, and cultivate a high-performing team culture. With significant opportunities still available in the market, we want to build our resources to effectively and strategically meet market demand, while meticulously managing financial performance, procurement, and tendering activities to ensure efficiency, compliance, and sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

  • People Leadership: Foster a positive and productive work environment, ensuring employees feel supported and motivated. Build strong, collaborative working relationships within the national team and the wider Rentokil Initial network. Lead and support key HR functions including recruitment, performance management, and disciplinary processes.
  • Operational Management: Oversee South Island business activities and operations to ensure effective project planning and delivery, while ensuring we are meeting safety, quality, and financial objectives. Collaborate with the Rural Senior Management Team for national alignment and optimal resource allocation.
  • External Relationship Management: Cultivate and strengthen relationships with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and industry stakeholders. Lead negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
  • Project Management: Manage project development and operations to ensure timely completion and client satisfaction. Identify opportunities to optimize resources and improve efficiency.
  • Strategic Planning & Reporting: Lead strategic planning and prepare essential business, financial, and performance reports.
  • Financial Management: Provide accurate weekly financial forecasts for your project portfolio. Facilitate purchasing, negotiate pricing contracts, and manage costs within financial frameworks. Develop new revenue streams and ensure competitive, profitable pricing for tenders.
  • Systems & Compliance Management: Promote a culture of safety, compliance, and accountability, ensuring adherence to global, Pacific, and local policies. Lead by example in promoting a strong safety culture.

What You'll Bring:

Essential Skills and Training:

  • Health and safety training (NZQA, ISO45001 or similar)
  • Strong leadership, interpersonal, and collaborative skills
  • Project Management skills
  • Contract negotiation skills
  • Pricing and tender skills

Essential Experience:

  • 10+ years of people leadership experience
  • 5+ years of thorough analytical and computer skills

Preferred, but not essential:

  • Comprehensive understanding of the Rural Pest Control market, opportunities, and risks.
  • Controlled Substances Licence.
  • NZ Firearms Licence.

Competencies Required:

  • Service - Deliver Results: Sets challenging goals, energized by exceeding goals, develops clear plans, overcomes obstacles, and challenges established ways of doing things to achieve goals effectively.
  • Act Commercially: Uses business data and competitive environment research to develop plans, identifies key activities linked to high performance, reviews processes for improvement, and makes tough business decisions.
  • Relationships - Manage Self: Aware of impact on others, adapts behavior, believes in problem-solving capability, seeks feedback for development, and sticks to beneficial decisions.
  • Coach and Develop: Provides specific, balanced, positive, and developmental feedback.
  • Work With Others: Seeks input, builds positive relationships, learns from others' experience, works in partnership, and resolves conflict.
  • Teamwork - Display Leadership: Operates authentically, creates an environment for team performance, delegates effectively, demands high performance, and inspires others.
  • Responsibility - Act Responsibly: Understands and follows SHE practices, considers sustainability in decisions, and takes ownership for actions, successes, and failures.

Why Join Rentokil Initial?

Rentokil Initial is a global leader in pest control and hygiene services. We offer a supportive and dynamic work environment where your contributions are valued. You'll have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our rural operations and contribute to our ongoing success.

Apply Now!

If you are a results-oriented leader with a strong background in rural operations and a commitment to excellence, we encourage you to apply.

List #1

Articles you might be interested in

Making a Difference: How Our Teams in Brunei are Restoring the Planet

Teaser

Making A Difference

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

11/28/2025

Summary

🌳 Making a Difference: Planting a Greener Future in BruneiAt Rentokil Initial, our purpose is simple yet vital: Protecting People, Enhancing Lives, and Preserving Our Planet. While our service

Teaser

Beyond Pest Control: Find out how our teams are planting 100 trees in the oldest forest reserves to create a #GreenerFuture.

Read more
From a Six-Month Temp Role to a 30-Year Career Trailblazer

Teaser

Career Development

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

09/11/2025

Summary

Jay Pillay's career story is a powerful testament to how a temporary opportunity can blossom into a lifelong professional growth and success journey. When she joined Rentokil Initial in February

Teaser

Jay Pillay's incredible 30-year journey at Rentokil Initial is a powerful story of how a six-month temporary role can evolve into a fulfilling career.

Read more
Rentokil Initial July 2024 Andy Ransom Quote (Facebook Post)
Delivering Service That Counts, Together

Teaser

The Front line

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/01/2025

Summary

At Rentokil Initial, we know that true excellence isn't just about what we do, but how we do it. It's about the connections we build, the support we offer each other, and the shared comm

Teaser

Are you ready to be part of a team where your service counts and your contributions are appreciated?

Read more
A white ice cream van with "Rentokil Initial" branding serves a smiling person, while a queue forms on a sunny street in London, celebrating the company's 100-year anniversary.
Sweet Treats & Pest Control: How We Kicked Off Our 100th-Year Anniversary in the UK

Teaser

Company update

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

06/16/2025

Summary

Who knew pest control could be so sweet? At Rentokil Initial, we love to celebrate, and what better way to kick off our monumental 100th anniversary than with a truly unique and deliciously surp

Teaser

Discover how Rentokil Initial UK celebrated its 100th anniversary with an unexpected treat!

Read more
Black and white photo of four women working with early office machinery, possibly accounting or computing machines, in a Rentokil office from an earlier era, with 'Rentokil 100 Years' logo overlaid.
A Century of Impact: Celebrating 100 Years of Innovation and Opportunity at Rentokil

Teaser

Company update

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

06/05/2025

Summary

A Century of Impact: Celebrating 100 Years of Innovation and Opportunity at RentokilWe have marked a monumental milestone for Rentokil – our 100th anniversary! For a century, we've been at the

Teaser

Join us as we celebrate a century of leading pest control innovation, global growth, and impactful careers. Discover how you can be part of our future

Read more
Louis, posing in front of our reception at Rentokil Initial headquarters
Living Our Values: Louis's Career Journey at Rentokil Initial

Teaser

Our Values in Action

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

03/20/2025

Summary

Learn, Grow, and Thrive: Louis's Career Journey at Rentokil Initial We recently sat down with Louis, a Learning Content Developer from our Group HR - Learning and Development team, to hear a

Teaser

Want to know what it's really like to work at Rentokil Initial? Join us as we chat with Louis from our Learning and Development team about his inspiring career journey and how our values come to life.

Read more
A picture of Sarah Lane, a young white female with blonde hair, in her early twenties smiling in front of the Rentokil Initial Logo
Life at Rentokil Initial: A New Starter's Journey

Teaser

Company update

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

01/02/2025

Summary

Starting a new job can be exciting and nerve-wracking, but Rentokil Initial strives to create an experience filled with support, growth, and a welcoming atmosphere. Take it from Sarah Lane, one of

Teaser

Get the inside scoop from Sarah on what it's REALLY like to join our team!

Read more
An image of a white female with brown shoulder length hair, smiling warmly
Want a Career at Rentokil Initial? Here's the Inside Scoop from Our Recruitment Manager

Teaser

Career Pathways

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

12/11/2024

Summary

Landing your dream job can be tricky. Acing that application? Even tougher! But don't worry, we're here to help. We sat down with Jo Sharpe, one of our top Recruitment Managers, to get the insid

Teaser

Want the inside scoop on how to land a job at Rentokil Initial? Our Recruitment Manager spills the secrets!

Read more
Sam Schader I.T Director at Rentokil-Initial
From Graduate to IT Director: Follow Sam's Journey

Teaser

Company update

Content Type

Living RI

Publish date

04/08/2024

Summary

Sam Schrader is the UKIB Region & Corporate Functions IT Director at Rentokil Initial. She first joined Rentokil Initial as a graduate student in the RI Management program in April 2005, where

Teaser

Read about Sam Schrader's fantastic journey from a new graduate to becoming the IT Director at Rentokil Initial. Sam's story shows us how learning from others, trying out different jobs, and always being willing to learn can lead to great success in the IT and business industry. Explore her story to see what it takes to build a successful career.

Read more
Person typing on a keyboard and tapping a futuristic illustration of people icons
Unveiling our new careers site!

Teaser

Company update

Content Type

News

Publish date

11/29/2023

Summary

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new career site, a platform designed to help you find the perfect job at Rentokil Initial and showcase our vision and values. Why the c

Teaser

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new career site, a platform designed to help you find the perfect job at Rentokil Initial and showcase our vision and values.

Read more

Search

Browse Jobs