Farm Technician - Innovation Farm

Livestock Improvement Corporation; Rukuhia; On-site; NZD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Livestock Improvement Corporation invites a practical Farm Technician to join its Innovation Farm in Waikato. You’ll be involved in milking, feeding cows, drafting stock and assisting with trials in our methane research barn.

This full-time seasonal role includes weekend work and early starts across the farm, dairy shed and research facilities. You don’t need to be a scientist—just practical, willing to learn, and able to follow procedures.

Qualifications

• Experience working with dairy cattle or livestock is required.
• Attention to detail and reliability are essential.
• Ability to follow procedures accurately and work in a team.

Responsibilities

• Milking and dairy shed operation
• Stock handling, drafting and animal movements
• Animal health monitoring and treatments
• Mating and herd testing
• Feeding cows and operating farm machinery
• General farm maintenance
• Supporting LIC research projects
• Assisting with animal trials and data collection
• Working with animal monitoring and farm technology
• Supporting the operation of the methane barn
• Maintaining accurate farm and trial records
• Ensuring animal welfare and Health & Safety standards

Skills

Dairy cattle experience

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Willingness to learn

Communication

Follow procedures

Adaptability

Tools

Farm technology

Job description

LIC is a farmer-owned co-operative that’s been supporting herd improvement in New Zealand’s dairy sector for more than 115 years. We’re focused on providing superior genetics, reliable testing and diagnostics, integrated on-farm software, and great customer service, all designed to help farmers make smarter decisions every day.

As a proud generational co-operative, we’re here for farmers, their families, and rural communities, not just for today, but for the future. And none of it happens without our people. Whether on farm, in the lab, or behind the scenes, every one of us plays a part in helping New Zealand farmers succeed.

About the Role:

Looking for something a bit different from a standard dairy farming role?

We’re looking for a practical, reliable and curious Farm Technician to join the team at LIC’s Innovation Farm. This is a hands‑on dairy farming role with a difference. Alongside normal farm duties, you’ll be involved in research and innovation projects that help shape the future of New Zealand dairy farming. One day you might be milking, feeding cows or drafting stock, and the next you could be helping with a research trial in our methane research barn.

This is a full-time, hands‑on farming position and will include rostered weekend work and early starts. You’ll work across the farm, dairy shed and research facilities. Because of the variety of work carried out on the Innovation Farm, no two weeks are likely to look exactly the same.

Please note: This is a seasonal role ending in May 2027.

What You’ll Be Doing:

You’ll be part of the day‑to‑day farm team and involved across a wide range of activities, including:

• Milking and dairy shed operation

• Stock handling, drafting and animal movements

• Animal health monitoring and treatments

• Mating and herd testing

• Feeding cows and operating farm machinery

• General farm maintenance

• Supporting LIC research projects

• Assisting with animal trials and data collection

• Working with animal monitoring and farm technology

• Supporting the operation of the methane barn

• Maintaining accurate farm and trial records

• Helping maintain high standards of animal welfare and Health & Safety

What Makes This Role Different?

This isn’t just about getting cows milked and jobs ticked off. The Innovation Farm is used for research in a real commercial farming environment. You’ll work alongside the farm team as well as researchers, technical specialists and other parts of LIC.

It’s a great opportunity for someone who enjoys farming but also wants to learn more about the technology, science and innovation happening behind the scenes in the dairy industry. You don’t need to be a scientist, you just need to be practical, willing to learn, and able to follow procedures accurately.

What We’re Looking For:

We’d like someone who:

• Has experience working with dairy cattle or livestock Is confident and calm around stock Is practical and willing to get stuck in

• Has good attention to detail Is reliable and takes pride in doing jobs properly Is comfortable using phones, tablets and farm technology

• Can follow instructions and procedures accurately

• Works well in a team but can also work independently

• Is willing to learn new systems and technology

• Communicates well and speaks up when something doesn’t look right

• Experience with dairy farming, tractors, animal health, rotary sheds, herd management systems or research trials would be useful, but we’re also happy to support the right person to learn.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the chance to:

• Work on a modern dairy farming operation

• Gain experience with new farming technology

• Be involved in real dairy research and innovation

• Develop skills beyond traditional farm work

• Work with a wide range of people across LIC

• Be part of projects that could influence how dairy farms operate in the future

If you enjoy farming, like learning new things and want a role with a bit more variety, we’d love to hear from you.