Assistant Manager (2IC) | Ngāi Tahu Farming

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life insurance

Health insurance

Modern, warm accommodation

Monthly community BBQs

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Ngāi Tahu Farming is seeking a motivated Assistant Manager (2IC) to join our Canterbury dairy farming team. You will work with the Dairy Farm Manager on daily performance, systems, and team leadership, stepping up in the Manager's absence to keep operations running smoothly.

We value someone ready to learn, take on responsibility and progress through our farming network, with opportunities from Dairy Assistant to leadership roles in future growth.

Qualifications

• Three or more years' dairy farming experience.
• Previous 2IC or similar leadership role is a plus.
• Experience with large herd operations is useful.

Responsibilities

• Support the Dairy Farm Manager with farm reporting, planning and performance.
• Help implement and continuously improve farm systems and procedures.
• Support animal health, welfare and preventative health programmes.
• Oversee feeding and pasture management.
• Manage day-to-day milking activities, troubleshooting and training team members.
• Support efficient calving and calf-rearing operations.
• Assist with mating and breeding activities to achieve farm targets.
• Help maintain farm infrastructure, machinery, fencing, irrigation and effluent systems.
• Provide day-to-day operational leadership and support to the farm team.

Skills

Dairy farming experience

2IC experience

People skills

Pasture management

Education

Dairy industry training

Full Driver Licence

GROWSAFE Certification

Te reo Māori awareness

Tools

Halter

Protrack

Job description

Kia hiwa rā!

Looking for your next step in dairy and an opportunity to build a genuine career in farming?

We're looking for a motivated Assistant Manager (2IC) to join our dairy farming team at Ngāi Tahu Farming.

Working closely with the Dairy Farm Manager, you'll play an important role in the day-to-day performance of the farm, supporting the team, animal performance, farm systems and operational planning. In the Farm Manager's absence, you'll step up to lead day-to-day operations and support the team to keep everything running smoothly.

You don't need to tick every box. We're looking for someone with a good grounding in dairy who is keen to learn, take on more responsibility and continue progressing their career.

Key Responsibilities – Ngā Kawenga Takohanga

• Support the Dairy Farm Manager with farm reporting, planning and performance.
• Help implement and continuously improve farm systems and procedures.
• Support animal health, welfare and preventative health programmes.
• Oversee feeding and pasture management.
• Manage day-to-day milking activities, troubleshooting and training team members.
• Support efficient calving and calf-rearing operations.
• Assist with mating and breeding activities to achieve farm targets.
• Help maintain farm infrastructure, machinery, fencing, irrigation and effluent systems.
• Provide day-to-day operational leadership and support to the farm team.

Ngā Pūkenga – What You'll Bring

We're looking for someone with a solid grounding in dairy farming who is ready to take the next step in their career. Ideally, you'll bring:

• Three or more years' dairy farming experience.
• Previous experience as a 2IC or in a similar role would be great, although we're also open to someone who has the capability and motivation to step up.
• Exposure to larger herd operations, particularly 600+ cows, would be useful given the scale of our farming operation.
• Confidence using technology and farm management systems. Familiarity with Halter or Protrack would be a bonus, but we're happy to support the right person to learn these systems.
• Sound pasture management knowledge.
• Good communication and people skills, with the confidence to support and lead others.
• Appropriate dairy industry training.
• A full driver licence.
• GROWSAFE Approved Handler certification, or willingness to work towards it.
• Understanding of or willingness to learn Ngāi Tahu values and te reo Māori.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who is motivated, keen to learn and wants to progress.

Grow your career with us

One of the great things about joining Ngāi Tahu Farming is the opportunity to build a genuine long-term career across our farming network.

Whether you join us as a Dairy Assistant, 2IC or at another stage in your career, there are opportunities to develop and progress into leadership and farm management roles, right through to future sharemilking opportunities.

If you're motivated to progress, we can support you to build your skills, gain experience and take that next step as opportunities come up across our farms.

Ko Tā Mātou Mahi – What We Offer

• Life and health insurance.
• 5-on, 2-off roster outside of calving.
• Modern, warm accommodation.
• A close-knit farming community with monthly BBQs.
• Learning, development and genuine career progression opportunities across Ngāi Tahu Farming.

Mō Mātou – About The Farm

• 320ha effective, fully irrigated by pivots.
• Peak milking 1,030 cows.
• A Halter farm.
• Runoff for wintering approximately 10 minutes away.
• 64-bale fully automated rotary cowshed, with ECRs, in-bail teat spraying and automatic drafting.
• Modern, well-maintained facilities and equipment.

At Ngāi Tahu Farming, we're committed to producing sustainable products in line with our values. By joining our team, you'll have the opportunity to make a real contribution to the future of farming while helping grow and protect Ngāi Tahu tribal assets for future generations.

If you've got solid dairy experience and you're ready for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you, even if you don't tick every box above.

Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai!