We are seeking an experienced and motivated Herd Manager to support the daily operations of a sheep milking farm. This role is hands-on and responsible for animal health, milking performance, pasture management, and supervising farm sta to ensure e icient and high-quality milk production. 

  • Minimum 30 hours per week guaranteed. 
  • Employee housing is available on-site. Accommodation may be shared or private, depending on availability at the time of successful placement. No pets allowed.
  • Drive-in applicants must be able to demonstrate they can reliably meet the requirements of the roster; candidates residing outside a reasonable commuting distance who are unwilling to relocate may be considered unsuitable for these operational reasons.

Applicants must have:

  • Minimum 2 years’ experience in dairy, sheep, or livestock farming OR a relevant level 4 qualification. 
  • Experience with milking systems (sheep, goat, or cow) preferred
  • Strong understanding of animal health, nutrition, and welfare
  • Ability to operate farm machinery safely
  • Good record-keeping and basic computer skills
  • Ability to lead, train, and supervise staff
  • Physically fit and able to work rostered hours, including weekends 
  • Must have a driver licence

Key Responsibilities:

Animal Health & Welfare

  • Monitor flock health daily and identify early signs of illness, lameness, or stress
  • Administer animal health treatments, vaccinations, drenches, and follow veterinary plans
  • Manage lambing, mothering-up, and young stock rearing
  • Maintain accurate animal health and production records
  • Understand the requirements of managing the di erent classes of stock and assist with all stock management
  • Responsible for maintaining accurate information in the Resolution farming app and always ensuring it up to date 

Milking Operations

  • Oversee and participate in twice-daily milking routines
  • Ensure milking procedures meet hygiene, quality, and animal welfare standards
  • Monitor milk yield, udder health, and somatic cell counts
  • Responsible for contributing to a continuous grade free season
  • Assist the farm manager to collect and use information to manage herd / flock feeding, so that farm targets are met
  • Train sta in best-practice milking techniques 

Feeding & Pasture Management

  • Plan and implement daily feeding regimes for milking ewes and young stock
  • Monitor pasture growth, quality, and allocation
  • Assist with supplementary feed planning and feeding-out
  • Maintain water systems and ensure constant access to clean water 

Farm Operations & Maintenance

  • Operate and maintain farm machinery, vehicles, and milking equipment
  • Assist with fencing, irrigation, and general farm infrastructure repairs
  • Ensure compliance with health & safety policies and environmental standards 

Team Leadership

  • Supervise and train farm assistants and casual staff
  • Allocate daily tasks and monitor performance
  • Support a positive, safe, and productive team culture 

 

Please provide us with information as to your eligibility to work in New Zealand – if you are on a temporary visa or if you are a New Zealand citizen/resident.

Employer Questions

Your application will include the following question(s):

  • Are you a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand resident?
  • If you are in New Zealand but not a NZ citizen/resident, what visa are you currently holding?
  • Do you have any specific accommodation requirements? E.g. Partner, children, pets, own or shared accommodation etc.
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