Data Operations Specialist

Halter; Morrinsville; On-site; NZD 34,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Halter in New Zealand is seeking a field data collector to join our team on the ground, gathering real-world measurements and field data to train our ML models for grazing optimization.

You'll work outdoors in paddocks, coordinate with farmers, capture pasture biomass, sensor readings, and drone imagery, and ensure data quality from the source while adhering to safety and protocol requirements. This is a 6‑month term with potential progression to full‑time based on performance.

Qualifications

• Must be comfortable working outdoors in variable field conditions.
• Follow protocols precisely and flag edge cases when needed.
• Reliable, self-managing, and able to travel to farms with early starts.
• Full, valid driver's licence and willingness to travel to campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Collect real-world measurements and field data for ML models.
• Coordinate with farmers and collect pasture biomass, sensor readings, imagery.
• Operate collection tools safely and maintain equipment for campaigns.
• Capture accurate metadata and ensure traceability of data.
• Hit collection targets and help refine field playbooks.

Skills

Outdoor work

Field data collection

Attention to detail

Time management

Driver's license

Tools

GPS/GNSS devices

Drones

Sensors

Job description

At Halter, we’re on a mission to enable farmers and graziers to run the most productive and sustainable operations. Our customers are using Halter to break free from the time-intensive constraints of conventional practices. Imagine watching 500 cattle stand up and walk calmly towards their next break? No quad bikes, no dogs, no fences. Just a group of cattle walking at their own pace. People say it looks like magic. Our customers are revolutionizing grazing with Halter. It's changing lives and transforming an industry. People join Halter to do meaningful work. By joining us you’ll be solving challenging problems within a talented team and a culture built for high performance. Our team out-think, out-work and out-care. We’re committed to delivering real change in the world - this isn’t easy, and in truth, we love that it’s hard.

Term: 6 months with the possibility of progressing to full-time if performance and business need allow.

Data is in our DNA at Halter, and represents one of our highest leverage assets for delivering value to farmers and ranchers. The performance of Halter’s predictive models are hugely influenced by the ground truth data used to train them. As such, we’re building a dedicated machine learning Data Operations function to own the full lifecycle of ground truth datasets: from collection of measurements with wide geographic diversity, through to annotation, and quality control—so that our ML teams can innovate with urgency, and ship reliable, high‑impact capabilities to farmers.

What you’ll do

You will be on the ground collecting the real-world measurements and field data that our machine learning models depend on. This is hands-on, high-volume work where quality and consistency matter as much as speed. You'll execute the collection campaigns that feed our ground-truth datasets — plate-metering paddocks, monitoring cow behaviour, capturing drone imagery — and be the front line that makes sure the data reflects what's actually happening in the paddock.

In-field data and measurement collection

• Coordinate and interact with farmers to respectfully engage with their farms for the purpose of collecting data to build product to serve them

• Carry out ground-truth data collection on farms: pasture biomass measurements, sensor readings, imagery capture, and animal or environmental observations against defined protocols to name a few.

• Operate collection equipment and tooling correctly and safely in variable field conditions (weather, terrain, livestock), and keep gear maintained, calibrated, and campaign-ready.

• Follow sampling plans precisely — right sites, right cadence, right method — so datasets are representative and comparable across time and location.

• Capture accurate metadata at the point of collection (location, timestamp, conditions, device, method) so every measurement is traceable back to reality.

Data quality at the source

• Apply annotation and labelling guidelines consistently, flag ambiguous or edge cases, and upscale rather than guess.

• Perform first-line quality checks in the field to catch obvious errors, gaps, or equipment issues before data leaves the farm, reducing rework downstream.

• Surface recurring problems, unclear instructions, or systematic issues to the Data Operations Lead so processes and guidelines improve over time.

Execution and throughput

• Hit collection targets and delivery milestones, managing your time across sites and campaigns to keep throughput predictable.

• Follow the playbooks and help refine them based on what actually works in the field.

• Keep clear records of what was collected, when, where, and any deviations, so datasets are reproducible and safe to use.

Partnership and on-the-ground presence

• Build good working relationships with farmers and farm staff; represent Halter well on their land and respect their operations.

• Coordinate with ML engineers and the Data Operations Lead to understand what each dataset is for, so you can make sensible judgement calls in the field.

• As collection scales, help onboard and train new specialists or contractors and model the standard for how the work is done.

What we’re looking for

Must-have

• Comfortable working outdoors and hands-on in variable, physical field conditions — weather, terrain, and around livestock.

• Careful and consistent: you follow protocols precisely, notice when something is off, and would rather flag an edge case than guess.

• Reliable and self-managing: you can plan a day across multiple sites, hit targets, and keep clear records without close supervision.

• Strong service mindset — you understand your work directly feeds the ML teams and take pride in getting it right for them and for farmers.

• A full, valid driver's licence and willingness to travel to farms, including early starts and time away depending on campaign needs.

Strongly preferred

• Experience in a field-based, agricultural, or data/measurement collection role where accuracy and repeatability mattered.

• Familiarity with farm environments, livestock handling, or pastoral systems.

• Comfort with collection tooling, apps, GPS/GNSS devices, drones, or sensors, and with capturing structured data digitally.

Nice-to-have

• Exposure to annotation or labelling workflows, or to sampling and quality-control concepts.

• Experience with real-world sensor data, imagery, or measurement instruments.

• Background in a role where data quality and traceability were treated as non-negotiable.

Join our team

Halter is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace — a place where we can each be ourselves and do the best work of our lives. Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and under-represented groups of candidates tend to only apply when they meet every requirement.

Why our team loves working at Halter

• Work that genuinely matters. Every now and again a company comes along that transforms an entire industry and leaves the world in a better place. Our team gets to be part of something truly meaningful, helping farmers improve their livelihoods, spend more time with their families, and build more sustainable operations.

• Spectacular people solving hard problems. Our culture is designed for talented people to do work that changes lives. The team is filled with diverse, kind, and driven people who push each other to do their best work. You'll be thrown into the deep end, tackling complex challenges and building something tangible that solves real problems.

• You’ll grow here. Autonomy, mastery, and learning define how we work. You'll have the freedom to work on interesting problems, master new skills, and continuously develop yourself, both through your role and our $1,000 personal growth fund.

• This isn't easy, and we love that it's hard. Working at Halter will be the most rewarding and the most challenging work of your life. We move fast, take bold bets, and work hard to reshape an entire industry. As one team member put it: "Joining Halter is a bit like strapping yourself to a rocket ship, but it's an epic journey to be a part of!"

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