Senior Operations Manager, Dairy & Grazing

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Ngāi Tahu Farming, a Ngāi Tahu-owned farming business, seeks an experienced Operations Manager to lead five diverse Canterbury farming operations. Reporting to the Head of Farming – Dairy Support & Grazing, you will drive operational performance and efficiency across dairy support, grazing, finishing and high-country systems.

You'll apply a whole-farm mindset, optimise feed, pasture and land use, and ensure resources are used effectively while delivering strong production, financial,

Qualifications

• Capable farming leader with practical farming expertise and strong people leadership skills.
• Strong experience across livestock, grazing and pastoral farming systems.
• Experience across dairy support, finishing and grazing operations.
• Sound understanding of feed planning, pasture management and farm system performance.
• Proven success leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong strategic and systems-thinking capability, with the ability to balance priorities.
• Comfort using data and technology to support decision-making and drive performance.
• Commitment to health and safety, animal welfare and sustainable farming practices.
• Understanding of Ngāi Tahu values, tikanga and te reo Māori.

Responsibilities

• Leading, coaching and supporting Farm Managers and their teams.
• Driving operational performance, efficiency and continuous improvement across multiple farming operations.
• Coordinating livestock, feed and grazing activities across the portfolio.
• Supporting seasonal planning, farm system optimisation and risk management.
• Using farm data and insights to support informed decision making and performance outcomes.
• Ensuring strong animal welfare, environmental stewardship and health and safety performance.
• Building leadership capability, accountability and engagement across farming teams.
• Contributing to the ongoing growth and development of the Dairy Support & Grazing business.

Skills

Farm leadership

Data-driven decisions

Health & safety

Communication

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Te reo Māori awareness

Job description

Ngāi Tahu Farming, a Ngāi Tahu-owned farming business, seeks an experienced Operations Manager to lead five diverse Canterbury farming operations. Reporting to the Head of Farming – Dairy Support & Grazing, you will drive operational performance and efficiency across dairy support, grazing, finishing and high-country systems.

You'll apply a whole-farm mindset, optimise feed, pasture and land use, and ensure resources are used effectively while delivering strong production, financial,