National Field Operations Technical Manager

Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC); Hamilton; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extra leave

Flexible working

Insurance discounts

Wellbeing discounts

Vehicle for work

Job summary

LIC is seeking an experienced National Field Operations Technical Manager based in Riverlea Hamilton, with occasional travel. You will lead the development and standardisation of practical field methods across Herd Testing, driving continuous improvement, safety, and operational effectiveness.

You’ll translate field knowledge into clear guidance and work with the leadership team to implement practical solutions that benefit farmers and the business.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a technical/operational/process-driven environment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical capability to turn evidence into outcomes.
• Experience developing, improving, or standardising processes and ways of working.
• Strong communication and influencing capability with leaders and teams.
• Ability to operate independently and contribute to leadership decisions.
• Experience in Herd Testing, dairy, or similar operations is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and standardisation of practical field methods and standards.
• Address unnecessary variation while recognising legitimate differences.
• Translate experience and evidence into practical ways of working.
• Drive improvements to field processes, equipment, and methods.
• Engage field teams to identify problems and develop workable solutions.
• Provide guidance on field methods, risks, and improvement priorities.
• Partner with leaders to implement practical field methods and documentation.
• Build understanding across field teams to sustain agreed ways of working.
• Collaborate across LIC to deliver integrated Herd Testing outcomes.

Skills

Field leadership

Process improvement

Problem solving

Communication

Leadership teamwork

Herd Testing knowledge

Tools

Standards documentation

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:

Are you an experienced operational or technical professional who sees opportunities to make practical work safer, more consistent, and more effective?

We’re looking for a National Field Operations Technical Manager to providetechnical and improvement leadershipacross LIC’s Herd Testing field operation and help shape the ongoing development of our national field operating system.

You’ll lead the development, standardisation, and continuous improvement of field methods and ways of working, bringing operational experience, evidence, and sound judgement together to develop practical solutions that work in the field.

Working closely with the National Field Operations Manager, you’ll help ensure agreed field practices are practical, well understood, and successfully implemented across our national operation.

As a member of the Herd Testing Leadership Team, you’ll bring field insight, professional judgement, and constructive challenge to collective decisions and priorities.

Please note: This role is based in Riverlea Hamilton and will require some travel. We are advertising the role in various locations to attract those who may consider moving. For the right background the hiring manager may consider an alternative base location.

Your Key Focus:

Field Technical Leadership and Standardisation

• Lead the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of practical field methods and standards.
• Identify and address unnecessary variation while recognising legitimate operational differences.
• Translate operational experience and evidence into practical and sustainable ways of working.

Continuous Improvement and Safer Field Practices

• Lead practical improvements to field processes, equipment, and ways of working.
• Engage field teams to understand problems, identify opportunities, and develop workable solutions.
• Improve safety, consistency, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.

Technical Problem-Solving and Decision Support

• Lead the investigation and resolution of field technical and operational issues.
• Apply sound judgement and evidence, drawing on specialist expertise where appropriate.
• Provide clear advice and recommendations on field methods, risks, options, and improvement priorities.

Operational Integration and Capability

• Partner with the National Field Operations Manager to ensure agreed field methods are practical, successfully implemented, and responsive to operational learning.
• Translate technical and operational knowledge into clear documentation, guidance, and capability development.
• Build understanding across field teams so agreed ways of working can be successfully applied and sustained.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Contribute actively to the Herd Testing Leadership Team, bringing field insight, sound judgement, and constructive challenge.
• Build effective relationships across Field Operations and relevant operational, technical, quality, and safety functions.
• Work collaboratively across LIC to deliver integrated Herd Testing outcomes.

Your Skills & Experience:

To succeed in this role, you'll bring:

• Significant experience in a technical, operational, process-improvement, or similarly process-driven environment.
• Strong practical problem-solving and analytical capability, with the judgement to turn evidence and operational knowledge into workable outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience developing, improving, or standardising processes and ways of working.
• Strong communication and influencing capability, including the ability to build credibility with operational teams, specialists, and senior leaders.
• The professional maturity to operate independently, take ownership of outcomes, and contribute effectively as part of a leadership team.
• Experience in Herd Testing, dairy, distributed field operations, or another standards-based operational environment would be advantageous.

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, and more!

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of Herd Testing across New Zealand. You’ll combine practical field insight, sound judgement, and continuous improvement to build safer, more consistent, and more effective ways of working for our people, our business, and the dairy farmers we support every day.