Dairy Production Manager - Totara Dairy

Tangram; Westland (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading dairy farm as a Dairy Production Manager where you will be instrumental in delivering outstanding animal performance and team development. This hands-on leadership role emphasizes your expertise in pasture management, financial planning, and fostering a productive team environment. Located in a beautiful rural setting, this opportunity offers competitive compensation and a supportive working culture.

Benefits

Health and life insurance

Enhanced parental leave benefits

KiwiSaver matching

Extra day of leave over Christmas

Ongoing training and development

Warm three-bedroom home

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior dairy farming role or ready to step into leadership.
• Strong commitment to Health, Safety, and Animal Welfare.
• Good understanding of grazing management and production targets.

Responsibilities

• Support the Farm Manager in all operational aspects.
• Conduct toolbox meetings and develop team members.
• Ensure compliance and high standards of farm presentation.

Skills

Animal Care

Team Leadership

Problem-Solving

Effective Communication

Job description

The OpportunityAs Dairy Production Manager, you’ll be a hands-on leader supporting the Farm Manager in delivering outstanding animal performance, pasture management, and team development.

You'll help run toolbox meetings, coach and develop team members, assist with financial and business planning, and ensure high standards of farm presentation and compliance.

You’ll enjoy working alongside a strong, supportive team where you’ll be trusted to take ownership of key responsibilities, all while developing your leadership skills and farm management capabilities.

This role is perfect for someone passionate about farming, who wants to continue building a professional career pathway while enjoying the benefits of an outstanding rural location close to Westport.

The FarmTotara Dairy is a high-performing, well-established farm just ten minutes from Westport. Set across 480 effective hectares, we milk 1,100 cows through a modern 60-bale rotary shed equipped with milk hub technology, automatic cup removers, and automatic teat spraying.

This is a progressive operation with strong systems, a focus on environmental responsibility, and a commitment to continual improvement.

About YouYou may already be in a similar role, or you are looking for that next step, regardless, you take pride in excellent animal care, pasture management, and team leadership.

You will also bring:

• Experience in a senior dairy farming role, or ready to step up into a leadership position, with a good understanding of team management and farm operations
• A strong commitment to Health, Safety, and Animal Welfare
• Good understanding of grazing management, feed budgeting, and achieving production targets
• Self-motivation, strong problem-solving skills, and initiative
• Effective communication skills and the ability to lead by example
• A current and full New Zealand driver's licence

BenefitsWe offer a competitive salary package, including health and life insurance, enhanced parental leave benefits, and up to 4% KiwiSaver matching. You'll also receive an extra day of leave over Christmas, plus ongoing training and development.

This opportunity comes with a warm three-bedroom home.

Apply NowApplications close Sunday 22 June 2025. we will be interviewing applicants as they apply, so please don't wait.

For more information about this role contact Kahu Parate - Farm Manager, on mailto:[e-mail].

To be eligible for this role, you must be available for an in-person interview and have unrestricted legal rights to work in New Zealand. We are unable to accept applicants on temporary work visas for permanent opportunities.

Apply online for this role or contact Recruitment Team for more information.

Pāmu is a recognised leader not only in New Zealand’s agricultural sector, but around the world where our farming practices are studied and emulated. Pāmu stands for best practice in sustainable and safe farming, and for the unique provenance of New Zealand foods, nutrition products and fibre on global markets.

Our Story

Pāmu is the brand name for Landcorp Farming Limited. We chose the Māori word ‘Pāmu’ not just for its literal meaning ‘to farm’ but also to reflect the Māori concept of guardianship of the environment (kaitiakitanga).

Landcorp Farming Limited is a State-Owned Enterprise with a nationwide portfolio of farms that produce milk, beef, lamb, wool, venison, wood and more. Pāmu strives to be a leader in New Zealand agriculture, carefully creating natural products of high quality.

Our Values

Grounded: We are proud guardians of our land and our animals, and we are grounded in our connections with these; our proactive protection of the environment ensures a prosperous future for now and for generations to come.

Genuine: We are genuine, always keeping it real, considering our neighbours and our impact; we are easy to engage with and we always deliver what we commit to.

Bold: We are bold in our vision, not afraid of the new; always growing and improving for a sustainable future in farming.

Shoulder-to-shoulder: We work together, shoulder-to-shoulder, united as a team to ensure each other’s safety and wellbeing; we bring out the best in each other and the communities we work in.