Head Beekeeper (Apiary Manager)

Pure Peninsula Honey; City of Greater Bendigo; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Leadership role in regional operations

Job summary

Pure Peninsula Honey is seeking a Head Beekeeper to oversee apiary operations across Bendigo and Mildura. You will mentor and schedule a team of beekeepers and seasonal workers, ensuring hive health, production efficiency and safety standards.

The role requires hands-on leadership and strong knowledge of apiary practices. The position involves coordinating harvesting, equipment maintenance and regional hive placement, with a focus on safety and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in commercial apiary operations
• Experience leading 10+ field staff
• Strong knowledge of hive biology, pests, and honey harvesting
• Physically fit for outdoor tasks in varying weather
• Valid Australian driver’s license; HR truck class required
• Excellent organizational and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Supervise, train and roster a field crew across Bendigo and Mildura sites
• Oversee day-to-day logistics, honey harvesting, extraction support and equipment maintenance
• Manage hive care including queen rearing, colony splits and disease management
• Coordinate hive transport and placement for regional production and pollination contracts
• Ensure compliance with workplace health and safety protocols

Skills

Team leadership

Beekeeping expertise

Hive health management

Field operations scheduling

Safety compliance

Outdoor physical endurance

Job description

As the Head Beekeeper, you will oversee day-to-day apiary operations across our Bendigo and Mildura sites for an immediate start. Your primary focus will be managing, mentoring and scheduling a team of beekeepers and seasonal field hands, ensuring hive health, production efficiency, and safety standards.

Key responsibilities

• Supervise, train and roster a growing field crew, fostering a safe and collaborative team culture
• Manage day-to-day logistics, honey harvesting, extraction support and equipment maintenance
• Oversee hive care including queen rearing, colony splits, pests and disease management (including Varroa treatment) and feeding programs
• Coordinate the transport and placement of hives for optimal honey production and regional pollination contracts
• Ensure the team adheres to workplace health and safety protocols

About you

• Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in commercial scale apiary operations
• Experience managing, mentoring, and organizing teams of 10+ field staff
• Strong knowledge of hive biology, disease diagnostics, queen management, and harvesting
• Fit and capable of managing physically demanding outdoor tasks in varied weather conditions
• Valid Australian driver's license, minimum of HR truck required
• A forward-thinking mindset with excellent organizational and communication skills

About us

At Pure Peninsula Honey we have been dedicated to producing 100% pure raw Australian honey for decades. While our home base is on the Mornington Peninsula our hives travel across Victoria's richest floral regions, including major apiary operations in the Greater Bendigo region.

Competitive salary package based on leadership experience

The opportunity to lead regional operations for an industry leading family-owned brand