Farm Manager Jobs in Otago

Due to our current Farm management people heading to new opportunities, we are looking for a capable person with experience in the dairy industry to help manage our 1100 cow Dairy Farm at Ngapara North Otago. This position would involve running the day to day system on the dairy farm, grass, cows, staff. 900 cows calved in spring and 200 in autumn. Milk all year round. Strengths needed for this role is a good understanding of pasture management, animal husbandry, staff management, irrigation and an ability to problem solve. A great attitude and good communication is also a must. The role would allow the opportunity for growth and development of your skills, while enhancing the skills you already have. We use a lot of technology to run farm, so need the applicant to have the skills to use it (Allflex collars, Protrack, irrigation technology etc). Opportunity for someone wanting to take the next step into management to be overseen by old manager that knows the farm system. Possibility of changing collars to Halter. Farm Size (ha): 320 Peak Herd Size (cows): 1100 Typical On-farm Staff: 5 Accommodation available: Different options depending on applicant. We have a tidy 3-bedroom home on farm with wood fire and heat pump. Hour Type: week Average Hours Per week: 65 Roster: Triple rotation - 7 Days on / 2 days Off - 7 Days on / 2 days Off - 8 Days on / 2 days Off Remuneration paid by: By Negotiation

Due to our current farm manager wanting to have a change in his farming role, and our current 2ic getting another Managers role for next season, we are on the lookout for a motivated person who is keen to take the next step in the Dairy Industry. We are after a well rounded person that is after a dairy farm managers position in North Otago. We milk 1100 cows and have a split calving of 900 spring, and 200 autumn calvers. We milk all year and have acquired a feed pad to do this. We will winter cows on farm and we have an adjacent runoff where we run all our young stock. We have a 320ha platform that is irrigated via spray irrigation (Pivots, Fixed Grid, Kline). Cows are milked through a 60 bail Waikato Rotary cowshed. Its equipped with cup removers, Protrack and inshed feeding. We have used Allflex collars on our cows for 9 seasons and are looking into other options of wearables currently. The successful applicant would run the day to day management of the dairy platform. Cows, Grass, feeding, people and harvesting the milk in an efficient way. We would offer support through the farm owner and current manager working alongside the applicant to find their feet and to learn our system. We have an existing team of capable and good humans, and we like to foster a fun and safe work environment for our team that makes our farm an enjoyable place to work. Farm Size (ha): 320 Peak Herd Size (cows): 1100 Typical On-farm Staff: 5 Position Start Date: 01/06/2026 Accommodation available: Different options depending on applicant. We have a tidy 3 bedroom home on farm with wood fire and heat pump. Hour Type: week Average Hours Per week: 65 Roster: Triple rotation - 7 Days on / 2 days Off - 7 Days on / 2 days Off - 8 Days on / 2 days Off Remuneration paid by: By Negotiation

**Dairy Farm Instructor - Ara Poutama / Department of Corrections** Lead a dairy team, grow skills, Change lives! We’re looking for an experienced Dairy Farmer to run our award‑winning 135ha, 360‑cow operation, producing approx. 130,000 kgMS annually. This role combines hands‑on farm leadership with meaningful mahi that supports reintegration and skill‑building for the tāne in our care. **Mō te Tūnga | About the role** - Oversee all daily dairy operations. - Lead, coach, and develop staff and participants. - Manage training & industry qualifications. - Build strong commercial relationships. - Monday–Friday, 5am–6pm (seasonal flexibility required) - Occasional public holiday work and essential callouts **Mōu | About you** - Strong farming background & proven dairy management experience - Excellent animal husbandry - Confident leadership & communication skills - Ability to work in Te Ao Māori environments. - Respect for diverse cultures and backgrounds. - Clean full NZ driver licence - Must live in NZ and hold a valid NZ work visa. - Training/education experience a bonus. All applicants must pass criminal history, medical, physical & drug testing. **Utu ā-tau | Salary** $79,500 – $93,210 (based on experience) To Apply: Submit your CV & Cover Letter using the link below or via our careers site. Email applications will not be accepted. Applications close: Wednesday 4 February 2026

This position has the potential to move into a Contract Milking opportunity for the right person. We are a family owned and operated farm in Kelso, the heart of West Otago. We are looking for someone that has at least 5 years experience in the industry, must be able to live and work in New Zealand, have a current drivers licence and is passionate about agriculture and dairy farming. You would be joining a thriving dairy farm in a beautiful spot, on the edge of the Pomahaka river, only 10 mins to Tapanui, 25mins to Gore and 2 hours to Dunedin, or Queenstown. We milk through a 54 bale rotary shed with ACR's, and Smart Wash. We have 2 support blocks nearby. Key Responsibilities would include: - Oversee the day to day running of the dairy farm, ensuring optimal animal welfare and farm productivity. - Manage the herd, implementing best practices in milking and nutrition. - Excellent leadership and communication skills. - Supporting staff You will need to have a strong understanding of dairy herd management, animal husbandry and experience in using farm machinery. We milk all year round - milking 250 cows over June/July Calving 150 in February, 100 in May and 600 in July/August Our wintering barn holds 750 cows, with an extension happening next season. This position may suit a couple, with work available for a partner. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, please get in touch.

**Job Location:** Otago **Type:** Full time, Permanent **Remuneration:** Negotiable based on experience An exciting opportunity has become available for an energetic and driven person. Our clients require a Farm Manager for their Dairy Support block located near Omarama. This is in conjunction with another support block close that you would oversee. This job would either suit a single person or a married couple. A great opportunity for expanding your career situated in an idyllic location with lakes and mountains close by, with a primary school in Omarama and High School in Twizel. The community offers a variety of recreational activities. This farm consists of 3400ha with 600ha irrigated by pivot and K-Line where the dairy support and bull beef are farmed. With sheep on the hill managed by a Shepherd. The farm is very well laid out, fenced with great yards to work from. **Current stock numbers on farm:** - R1 Dairy Heifers – 2000 - R2 Dairy Heifers – 2000 - R2 Steers – 200 - Sheep - Ewes – 2945 The other block was purchased two years ago, which has been redeveloped. It consists of 860ha with 250Ha being irrigated land 30 ha of which is milked off by our Dairy Farm next door. The remaining balance of land is dryland. **Current Stock Numbers on farm:** - R2 Steers – 163 - Bulls – 17 - Angus Cows - 273 - Angus Calves – 241 There is an additional four staff to support that will help support you on both farm blocks. **Key Responsibilities:** - Organising rosters and managing four staff members - To manage R1/2yr Dairy Heifers as they arrive at the station until they leave. This includes monitoring their weights, drenching programs, and all animal health. - To participate in the breeding program for the R2yr Heifers - Managing pasture using Minda Land and Feed - Keeping all records for animal health treatments for all stock. - Winter grazing of Dairy stock with assistance from Sharemilkers. - Manage Irrigation as required (within consent conditions) - Organise applications and spreading of fertiliser - Weekly and monthly reports **Other Information:** - Four Bedroom House on farm is provided on farm - The Employer/Property owner will be involved in the overall running of the property and consulting with you in any decision making along with our farm consultant. - **Farm Size (ha):** 3400ha - **Peak Herd Size (cows):** 3000 - **Typical On-farm Staff:** 4 - **Position Start Date:** 31/05/2026 - **Accommodation available:** 4 bedroom, double glazed house - **Hour Type:** week - **Average Hours Per week:** 45 - **Roster:** By negotiation - **Remuneration paid by:** By Negotiation

Devon Dairy Farms is made up of 5 individual dairy operations all within 1 single boundary, making it 1 of a kind dairy operation, overall we peak milk 4500 dairy cows and run 2500 replacement stock at any given time. Devon Dairy Farms is a modern farming operation and is at the forefront of technology within its farming practises. We are looking for a highly experienced capable manager to take on 1 of our 1100 cow farms. We are located in the amazing Lakes district of Central Otago conveniently placed between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. We are a Gold standard dairy operation striving to achieve and maintain our animals to the highest standard alongside a solid understanding of our land and water and our responsibility to protect this for future generations whilst achieving strong milk production and mating results. You must have a minimum of 5 years managing a large scale farm, currently be employed within New Zealand and proven experience with Minda, Protrac, Allflex monitoring systems including Milk meters and SCC systems, strong pasture management skills, and a high degree of understanding and managing effluent systems including the responsibility of discharging effluent. Experience in all forms of irrigation, VRI pivot, pivot, rotorainer and k line is required. The correct person will be managing up to 5 staff in a positive engaging manner and understand it takes a team to get both success and results. You must be a strong leader, willing to train others and be able to manage staff on all levels and be diverse in handling different cultures and be a clear strong communicator. This is not a position for someone wanting to step into managing, you must have a strong proven track record and be able to provide referees from your last 4 employers, along with 2 character references and be currently working in New Zealand and hold the relevant visa requirements. The shed is a Waikato 60 bail rotary with auto cup removers, auto teat spray, along with Allflex cow monitoring systems including Milk Metres and SCC systems. Please only apply if you hold the above criteria, you must hold a current New Zealand working visa.

We are looking for a experienced and competent farm manager or 2IC looking to step up and join our productive with a desire to achieve a high standard. Our farm is well organised and well supported dairy unit with attached wintering support. We run 580 quiet Fresian and crossbred cows who are our upmost priority to be happy and well looked after. The farm is a tidy 220 ha unit with center pivot irrigation and a 44 bale rotary with acrs and in-shed feeding. You will be efficient and organised, have good stock sense, tractor skills and good attention to detail and a desire to do a great job to a great standard as well as hold all the necessary skills expected for this role including staff management and training. As owners we are very supportive in making sure the farm runs smoothly. We are flexible on start date for this position for the right candidate. Farm Size (ha): 220 Peak Herd Size (cows): 580 Typical On-farm Staff: 3 Position Start Date: 31/01/2026 Accommodation available: Tidy three bedroom house which is to healthy homes standard is available with great schooling close by. Hour Type: week Average Hours Per week: 55 Roster: Single rotation - 5 Days on / 2 days Off Remuneration paid by: By Negotiation Remuneration if Total Package Value (e.g. Salary and/or benefits): negotiable according to experience

Located close to Duntroon at the entrance to the Danseys Pass, Loch Lomond is a drystock support property for the wider Sealach Ltd farming operation. Due to the retirement of our manager and partner for unfortunate health reasons, we are seeking a capable Drystock Farm Manager to lead the day-to-day operations. Loch Lomond supports our dairy businesses by: - Wintering 1200 cows - Rearing 400 calves - Grazing 400 R2 heifers/dairy cross beef - Rearing 300-400 dairy cross beef to December - Short term cull cow grazing - Occasional lamb finishing over winter, depending on feed supply and season - Silage and Baleage supplement The farm has 220 hectares of K-Line irrigation, supplied through a private consent from the Maerewhenua River supplemented with North Otago Irrigation Company (NOIC) water and 300ha of dryland pasture and run country. Halter technology on all R2 dairy stock, enabling efficient, low-stress shifting and improved grazing management. A mix of high-performing pasture, crop, and winter feed systems. A mix of property type from flat irrigated to run country. The Farm Manager will be responsible for all aspects of day-to-day management, including: - Managing the wintering of the dairy herd - Rearing and managing calves and young stock through to calving - Pasture and crop management - Operation and optimization of K-line irrigation systems - Animal health, welfare, and performance monitoring - General farm maintenance — fencing, water systems, machinery - Record keeping, reporting, and communication within the broader farming business - Leading a staff member and seasonal staff when required and working collaboratively with the wider team The ideal candidate will have: - Strong experience in drystock or young stock management - Excellent stockmanship and animal-health knowledge - Competence in rotational grazing and feed planning - Some experience with irrigation systems - Good communication, organization, and forward-planning skills - Ability to work independently while remaining an integral part of the wider team - A proactive, can-do attitude and attention to detail - Experience with (or willingness to learn) Halter technology - Commitment to high standards of animal welfare and environmental management - Some working dogs under good command - New Zealand residency and a full driver’s license Competitive remuneration based on experience and on-farm housing available.