Rakaia Island Ltd Looking for at Southbridge, Canterbury Full Time

Rakaia Island Limited is a large-scale family owned dairy and dry stock operation that is dedicated to farming for the future, being at the forefront of innovation and efficiency and promoting a culture of continuous learning. 

Rakaia Island milks 4,700 cows across 4 dairy units, with 427 hectares of dry stock land fully supporting the dairy business.  

The Livestock and Cropping Manager role is a newly created position taking overall accountability of ensuring the health, well-being and productivity of all livestock – including drystock and calves. The Livestock and Cropping Manager will proactively plan and manage pasture, cropping, dry feed and other nutrition requirements, and together with the Calf Rearing Specialist and their team will lead the raising of all calves during the season. 

The Livestock and Cropping Manager is responsible for leading a small team and ensuring collaboration and best use of resources to enhance performance and productivity.  In addition to ensuring the delivery of the annual operational plan and the achievement of key performance indicators, this challenging role focuses on coaching direct reports and developing the capability and sustainability of the team. 

The Livestock and Cropping Manager is supported by the Operations Manager and an administration team who share Rakaia Island’s strong and supportive family values. Rakaia Island’s culture of continuous improvement and collaboration means there is also good support across the wider business.

To succeed in this role you will:

• Be an experienced farmer with the dairy dry stock experience and the technical skill to deliver excellent results and best practice management;
• Have the management and leadership skill to develop people to successfully reach their potential;
• Be involved in monitoring livestock performance, using results and data to inform decision making.
• Be an excellent communicator who can set expectations, share a vision, get people excited about what is on the horizon and hold them accountable for their actions;
• Have experience working in a large scale dairy operation with culturally diverse teams;
• Take pride in the farm presentation and the assets used as part of the role;
• Be a team player, able to collaborate, build successful relationships, share knowledge and information and contribute positively to the wider business.
• Have a commitment to high standards of health and safety, animal welfare, and environmental management.

We offer a competitive remuneration package which includes health insurance, an Employee Assistance Programme, weekday lunches, wellness assessments and flu jabs, discounted purchases from rural supplies stores.   A tidy three-bedroom home is available for the Livestock and Cropping Manager and their family with school bus not far from the gate. 

A full position description for this role can be viewed on our website: www.rakaiaisland.co.nz

If you possess the passion, drive and competency required for this role and are drawn by the opportunity to make a difference to this successful family-owned New Zealand business, submit your resume and cover letter by email [email protected]. Applications close Wednesday 26th April.

*We will only be accepting applications from candidates currently living in New Zealand. A pre-employment drug test will be required.