Milking & Herd Operations Manager

Bear Marketing; Dayboro; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Bear Marketing in Dayboro, Queensland, is seeking an experienced dairy professional to own the milking operation and lead a team of casual staff.

This full-time, shift-work role requires hands-on leadership across early mornings, afternoons and weekends, with a strong emphasis on herd health and milk quality while fostering a positive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial dairy and milking experience.
• Excellent cattle handling and animal welfare knowledge.
• Experience managing or supervising farm staff.
• Strong people leadership and communication skills.
• Good knowledge of herd health and calf management.
• A sound understanding of milking systems and equipment.
• The confidence to take ownership, make decisions and solve problems.
• A reliable, positive and team-focused attitude.

Responsibilities

• Leading and coordinating our casual milking team.
• Working hands-on as part of the milking roster.
• Ensuring milking runs efficiently and to a high standard.
• Training, supporting and managing staff.
• Creating a positive, respectful and accountable team culture.
• Monitoring herd health, cow wellbeing and milk quality.
• Identifying and managing health issues associated with the milking process.
• Understanding and overseeing milking plant and equipment.
• Calf management and welfare.
• Maintaining high standards of dairy hygiene, animal welfare and farm safety.

Skills

Strong leadership

Cattle handling

Staff supervision

People communication

Herd health knowledge

Milking systems

Decision making

Team attitude

Tools

Milking equipment

Job description

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on dairy professional and people leader to take

responsibility for our day-to-day milking operation and lead our team of casual milking staff.

Our dairy is located at Dayboro in the Moreton Bay region, reasonably close to Brisbane

and surrounding communities, and milks up to 220 cows per day.

This is not simply a milking role. We are looking for someone who will own the milking

process, lead the team and help us create a genuinely great workplace culture.

The role

You will be responsible for:

• Leading and coordinating our casual milking team
• Working hands-on as part of the milking roster
• Ensuring milking runs efficiently and to a high standard
• Training, supporting and managing staff
• Creating a positive, respectful and accountable team culture
• Monitoring herd health, cow wellbeing and milk quality
• Identifying and managing health issues associated with the milking process
• Understanding and overseeing milking plant and equipment
• Calf management and welfare
• Maintaining high standards of dairy hygiene, animal welfare and farm safety

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• Strong commercial dairy and milking experience
• Excellent cattle handling and animal welfare knowledge
• Experience managing or supervising farm staff
• Strong people leadership and communication skills
• Good knowledge of herd health and calf management
• A sound understanding of milking systems and equipment
• The confidence to take ownership, make decisions and solve problems
• A reliable, positive and team-focused attitude

Most importantly, we want someone who enjoys leading people. Someone who sets high standards, communicates well, works alongside the team and helps create an environment where people enjoy coming to work. This is a full-time shift-work position, including early mornings, afternoons and rostered weekends.

Due to the nature of dairy farming and the shift requirements, ideally you will live within approximately 20 minutes of the farm or be willing to relocate locally. If you're an experienced dairy professional who loves working with cows but is also ready to lead the people and take ownership of the milking operation, we'd love to hear from you.