Farm Machinery & Maintenance Manager

Haines Attract for The Salvation Army; Southland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Rent-free on-farm accommodation

Farm meat supplied

Five weeks' annual leave

Work phone

Personal locator beacon (PLB)

Autonomy and ownership

Supportive team

Job summary

Haines Attract for The Salvation Army is seeking an experienced Machinery & Maintenance Manager for Jeff Farm, a 2,400-hectare Southland operation. You will own the machinery fleet, workshop, and maintenance programme, working with cadets and senior management to plan and prioritise work and drive ongoing improvements.

You’ll bring strong practical experience, clear problem-solving skills and the patience to teach others.

Qualifications

• Experience with machinery maintenance and preventative maintenance planning.
• Strong problem-solving skills and initiative.
• Ability to teach and supervise cadets.

Responsibilities

• Manage machinery, vehicles, servicing and preventative maintenance.
• Plan and undertake fencing, water reticulation, building and infrastructure maintenance.
• Manage the workshop and coordinate repairs and improvements.
• Identify practical, cost-effective solutions and prioritise maintenance requirements.
• Teach and supervise cadets as they develop practical farming skills.
• Carry out cultivation, cropping, drilling, spraying and mowing in line with the farm's agronomy plan.

Skills

Practical experience

Problem-solving

Teach cadets

Independent worker

Job description

Location: Jeff Farm | Southland | Sheep, Beef & Deer

Are you the person everyone turns to when something needs fixing, improving or figuring out?

Someone who takes pride in well-maintained machinery, straight fences, a tidy workshop and a job done properly?

Who can operate a tractor, troubleshoot a water system, tackle a fencing project and still have the patience to teach someone else how to do it?

If that sounds like you, we might just have your ideal job!

A little about us:

Jeff Farm is a 2,400-hectare, 25,000 stock unit sheep, beef and deer operation in Southland, proudly owned by The Salvation Army.

We're a productive commercial farm with a difference. As a nationally recognised agricultural training facility, we're also helping develop the next generation of New Zealand farmers.

We're a close-knit team who work hard, have a laugh and take pride in what we do. And because we're a training farm, patience, a sense of humor and a willingness to share knowledge are just as important as practical ability.

The opportunity:

We're looking for an experienced, practical and proactive Machinery & Maintenance Manager to take ownership of our machinery fleet, workshop, maintenance programme and farm infrastructure.

Working alongside our senior management team and cadets, you'll have the freedom to plan and priorities your work, tackle challenges and contribute your own ideas to the ongoing development and improvement of the farm.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing machinery, vehicles, servicing and preventative maintenance.
• Planning and undertaking fencing, water reticulation, building and infrastructure maintenance.
• Managing the workshop and coordinating repairs and improvements.
• Identifying practical, cost-effective solutions and prioritising maintenance requirements.
• Teaching and supervising cadets as they develop their practical farming skills.
• Carry out cultivation, cropping, drilling, spraying and mowing in line with the farm's agronomy plan.

Who we're looking for

We're not necessarily looking for the longest CV or the most impressive qualifications. We're looking for someone who's genuinely good at what they do.

You'll bring strong practical experience, excellent problem-solving skills, initiative and pride in your workmanship. You'll be organized, communicate well and enjoy working independently as part of a supportive team.

Most importantly, you'll have the patience and temperament to work alongside young people who are still learning.

We believe in doing a job once and doing it right — but we also understand that teaching someone else to do it right might take a little longer!

What we offer:

• Rent-free on-farm accommodation, including power and unlimited Wi-Fi.
• Farm meat supplied.
• Five weeks' annual leave.
• Work phone and personal locator beacon (PLB) supplied
• Genuine autonomy, responsibility and the opportunity to make the role your own.
• A supportive team and the satisfaction of helping develop future farmers.

There may also be employment opportunities for a partner, depending on their skills and interests.

Interested?

If you're a practical problem-solver who enjoys a challenge, takes pride in your work and doesn't mind a bit of banter along the way, we'd love to hear from you!

For an informal and confidential chat about the position, contact General Manager Michael Benton on 027 619 9716.

Jeff Farm is proudly owned by The Salvation Army and operates as both a commercial farming business and an agricultural training facility.