Herd Improvement Lead - Maternity Cover 6m.

Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC); Invercargill City; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Livestock Improvement Corporation in New Zealand seeks a Herd Improvement Lead to work with progressive dairy farmers, turning data into practical on-farm outcomes. You’ll combine technical know-how, commercial sense and relationship skills to boost herd performance, productivity, and profitability.

This influential role partners with future-focused farmers, delivering expert advice and representing LIC's herd-improvement capability across the industry.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of dairy farming, herd improvement, and reproduction.
• Ability to translate farm data into actionable recommendations.
• Proven experience building trusted client relationships in farming.
• Commercial mindset with track record of sales or growth targets.

Responsibilities

• Build partnerships with dairy farmers through on-farm engagement and advisory conversations.
• Analyse herd data to provide insights, benchmarking, and practical recommendations.
• Grow portfolio revenue and achieve Herd Improvement targets.
• Lead on-farm walks and deliver data-driven solutions for confident decisions.
• Develop networks with veterinarians and rural professionals to create value for customers.
• Support capability development across the wider Agri team with knowledge sharing.
• Represent LIC at industry events and sector engagements.

Skills

Dairy farming

Herd improvement

Data interpretation

Relationship building

Commercial mindset

Data presentation

Stakeholder management

MINDA

MS Office

Tools

MINDA

Microsoft Office

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:

Join LIC's NZ Markets team as a Herd Improvement Lead, where you'll work alongside progressive dairy farmers to turn data into meaningful on-farm outcomes. As the trusted Herd Improvement specialist in your territory, you'll combine technical expertise, commercial acumen, and relationship management to help farmers improve herd performance, productivity, and profitability.

This is a highly influential role where you'll partner with future-focused farmers, provide expert advice, and represent LIC's leading herd improvement capability across the industry.

Your Key Focus:

• Build strong partnerships with a portfolio of dairy farmers through regular on-farm engagement and advisory conversations.
• Analyse herd improvement and reproduction data to provide clear insights, benchmarking, and practical recommendations.
• Drive commercial performance by growing portfolio revenue and achieving Herd Improvement targets.
• Lead on-farm walks and deliver data-driven solutions that help farmers make confident decisions.
• Develop strong networks with veterinarians, rural professionals, and internal stakeholders to create value for customers.
• Support capability development across the wider Agri team by sharing knowledge and expertise.
• Represent LIC at industry events, customer forums, and sector engagements.

What you’ll bring...

• Strong technical knowledge of dairy farming, herd improvement, and reproductive performance.
• Proven ability to interpret complex farm data and translate insights into practical actions.
• Experience building trusted customer relationships and delivering advisory services in a farming environment.
• A commercial mindset with a track record of achieving sales, growth, or performance targets.
• Confidence presenting to customers, rural professionals, and industry groups.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency with MINDA and Microsoft Office tools.
• A passion for helping New Zealand farmers succeed through smarter, data-driven decisions.

In Return:

In addition to a competitive salary, you'll receive extra leave days, flexible working options, discounted health, life, income and disability insurances, wellbeing discounts, a vehicle for work and private use, an employee assistance programme, plus more!

At LIC, you'll have the opportunity to work directly with some of New Zealand's most progressive dairy farmers, helping shape the future of herd improvement across the industry. If you're passionate about combining science, data, and practical farming knowledge to deliver real on-farm impact, we'd love to hear from you.