General Manager - Farming

Mangatu Blocks Inc.; Gisborne; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Integrated Foods Limited (IFL) seeks an experienced General Manager – Farming to lead its farming and livestock operations on the East Coast. This senior role demands strategic and operational leadership across pastoral livestock, with a focus on performance, people, continuous improvement and sustainability.

You will drive breeding, finishing and procurement strategies, lead farming teams and coordinate with contractors, suppliers and governance bodies to optimise quality and efficiency.

Qualifications

• More than 10 years’ senior management experience within agribusiness.
• Advanced knowledge of complex sheep and beef livestock production systems.
• Experience across breeding, finishing and procurement.
• Strong knowledge of genetics and animal health management.
• Strong commercial, financial and business acumen.
• Proven leadership, coaching and mentoring capability.
• Strong analytical skills and sound commercial decision-making.
• An interest in technology, measurement systems and innovation within farming.
• The credibility and relationship skills to work effectively with employees, farmers, suppliers, contractors, executives and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy for livestock breeding, genetics, finishing and procurement.
• Provide leadership and direction to farming and livestock teams, contractors and consultants.
• Drive physical and financial performance across the farming and livestock business.
• Oversee breeding programmes and ensure genetics align with environmental conditions and market requirements.
• Optimise livestock growth, finishing performance and sale weights.
• Coordinate livestock flows between breeding operations, finishing partners and processing requirements.
• Work collaboratively with Fresh Meats procurement to optimise the supply of finished livestock.
• Develop annual budgets, forecasts and operational plans and monitor performance against them.
• Build strong relationships with farmers, finishers, livestock suppliers, contractors, advisors and other key stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve farming systems through technology, innovation and better use of information.
• Ensure high standards of animal welfare, environmental performance, regulatory compliance and health and safety.
• Contribute as a member of the Executive Team to the wider strategy and performance of Integrated Foods.

Skills

Agribusiness leadership

Livestock management

Strategic planning

Commercial acumen

Team leadership

Education

Tertiary qualification in agribusiness

Job description

Integrated Foods Limited (IFL) is seeking an experienced and commercially focused General Manager – Farming to lead our farming and livestock operations.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who understands the complete livestock production system, from breeding and genetics through to finishing and procurement, and can translate that knowledge into strong operational and commercial performance.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Executive Team, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across our pastoral livestock business while strengthening the connection between farming, livestock supply and the wider integrated food system.

About Us

Mangatu Blocks Incorporation is a Māori-owned organisation focused on supporting the prosperity of its owners. Mangatu has a diverse portfolio of high-performing assets and, most importantly, is committed to the care and stewardship of approximately 45,000 hectares of whenua.

Integrated Foods Group (IFG), a subsidiary of Mangatu, is an established agribusiness with large-scale farming operations in Gisborne and its own lamb processing facilities in Napier.

IFL operates approximately 8,500 hectares of East Coast hill country, producing quality sheep and beef through simple, efficient farming systems. We are committed to developing our people, continuously improving our farming systems, and protecting the land for future generations.

The Role

You will be responsible for leading and coordinating IFL’s farming and livestock systems, with a strong focus on performance, people, continuous improvement and long-term sustainability.

Your key areas of responsibility will include:

• Leading the strategy for livestock breeding, genetics, finishing and procurement.
• Providing leadership and direction to farming and livestock teams, contractors and consultants.
• Driving physical and financial performance across the farming and livestock business.
• Overseeing breeding programmes and ensuring genetics align with environmental conditions and market requirements.
• Optimising livestock growth, finishing performance and sale weights.
• Coordinating livestock flows between breeding operations, finishing partners and processing requirements.
• Working collaboratively with Fresh Meats procurement to optimise the supply of finished livestock.
• Developing annual budgets, forecasts and operational plans and monitoring performance against them.
• Building strong relationships with farmers, finishers, livestock suppliers, contractors, advisors and other key stakeholders.
• Identifying opportunities to improve farming systems through technology, innovation and better use of information.
• Ensuring high standards of animal welfare, environmental performance, regulatory compliance and health and safety.
• Contributing as a member of the Executive Team to the wider strategy and performance of Integrated Foods.

About You

We are looking for an experienced agribusiness leader who combines strong practical livestock knowledge with commercial thinking and the ability to lead through others.

Ideally, you will bring:

• More than 10 years’ senior management experience within agribusiness.
• Advanced knowledge of complex sheep and beef livestock production systems.
• Experience across breeding, finishing and procurement.
• Strong knowledge of genetics and animal health management.
• Strong commercial, financial and business acumen.
• Proven leadership, coaching and mentoring capability.
• Strong analytical skills and sound commercial decision-making.
• An interest in technology, measurement systems and innovation within farming.
• The credibility and relationship skills to work effectively with employees, farmers, suppliers, contractors, executives and governance.
• Excellent communication, planning and organisational skills.

A tertiary qualification in agribusiness or a related field would be advantageous, as would experience in livestock trading, procurement, farm collaborations and supplier management.

Leadership That Matters

This role requires more than technical farming expertise. We are looking for someone who can set direction, bring people with them and continually challenge how livestock performance can be improved.

You will be expected to build strong relationships across the business and contribute positively to a culture based on our values:

Rangatiratanga – Leadership Whakapono – Trust/Pride Whanaungatanga – Relationships Whakatutukitanga – Achievement/Excellence

Why Join Integrated Foods?

This is an opportunity to influence the performance of a significant East Coast livestock business that sits within a wider integrated food system.

You’ll be well supported by a strong organisational structure and a talented, growing team, with expertise across, processing, sales and corporate functions.

With influence from breeding and genetics through to finishing, processing and market, you’ll have the opportunity to drive performance, develop people and help shape the future of our farming business.

If you are an experienced sheep and beef leader who understands livestock systems, thinks commercially and enjoys developing people and improving performance, we would like to hear from you.

For confidential enquiries, please contact Michelle McLeely on 027 568 9945 or [e-mail].