Herd Manager Jobs in West Coast

Herd Manager required for large dairy farm on West Coast 20 km from Hokitika. Minimum experience required of 2-3 years on New Zealand dairy farm, and Level 3 Certificate in Agriculture OR significant progress towards completing that qualification. Qualities required include a professional approach, ability to work under pressure, organisational and time management skills and excellent attention to detail. This role includes the ability to work effectively as a part of a large team. Must be able to efficiently and safely run the day-to-day operation include milking cows, shed hygiene, feed allocation, animal health monitoring and treatments, breeding AB selection, feeding supplements, tractor work, effluent management, and weed and pest control. Must be able to supervise and train other staff on the farm, and use and manage farm technology, recording and management systems. Good level of literacy and numeracy required to ensure accurate data recording and monitoring and ensure correct feeding and treatments. Ability to keep a clean and tidy workplace is essential. Ability and experience riding 2 wheel and 4 wheel motorbikes safely on difficult terrain is also required. A minimum of Full Class 1 NZ Drivers Licence required. Applicants must have access to a motor vehicle. All applicants must be present in New Zealand to apply and available for an in-person interview on farm. All applicants must be able to comply with pre-employment drug test and regular drug and alcohol testing regime. Applicants must be physically fit, non-smoker and have no previous injuries that may limit duties. Applicants must agree to undertaking a pre-employment medical examination.

Being owner/operators of our beautiful 440 Ha farm in the most stunning setting on the West Coast, located just 30 mins from Greymouth and 15 mins to Lake Brunner, it is the perfect location for you to be able to take full advantage of the great outdoors. A requirement of this position is that you have enough experience of at least 2 years to feel confident enough to work unsupervised. You must have experience with production, feeding, animal health and wellbeing and some pasture management as well as being a competent tractor driver. You must come to us with a willingness to learn, a strong work ethic, honesty, reliability, strong communication skills, and again most of all you must want to grow your career. We consider ourselves to be excellent employers, we like to grow and develop the next generation of dairy farmers, and we have excellent on farm accommodation available. We shall pay a competitive salary of between $28 to $32 per hour and we guarantee a minimum of 30 hours per week. We offer a safe and healthy work environment for everyone to enjoy, so no drugs and no criminal record. Farm Size (ha): 440 Peak Herd Size (cows): 700 Typical On-farm Staff: 4 Accommodation available: 2-bedroom cottage $200 per week – Sorry strictly no pets Hour Type: week Average Hours Per week: 50 Roster: Single rotation - 11 Days on / 3 days Off Remuneration paid by: By Negotiation Remuneration if Total Package Value (e.g. Salary and/or benefits): Neg.

We milk 650 cows through a 48 bale cow shed with auto teat spray and automatic cup removers. The farm is flat contour, tidy and well setup and located approximately 10 mins to Hokitika. We run a 11 and 3 roster with a max hours of 55, hours over the year are variable but will average a lot lower than 55. We run a team of 3 full time workers and there is always 2 people working. We are an accredited employer. We offer a competitive salary, good level of accommodation, support with visas through to residency if needed. The cows are very quiet and are very nice cows to milk and work with. We are looking for an employee who genuinely enjoys working as a dairy farmer, someone who is hard working and takes pride in helping to run a farm to a high standard. Start date is flexible.

Herd Manager / Experienced Farm Assistant – Westport (West Coast) 800-cow Dairy Farm | 50-Bale Rotary | 400 ha | 5-Person Team We are seeking a motivated and capable Herd Manager or experienced Farm Assistant to join our progressive dairy operation near Westport. You’ll be part of a supportive team focused on good stockmanship, efficient farm systems, and continual improvement. What We Offer: - Competitive remuneration package (negotiable based on experience) - On-farm two-bedroom cottage - Support for ITO training, career development, and skill progression - Positive, team-oriented work environment Key Responsibilities: - Daily herd management and milking operations - Animal health monitoring and record keeping - Pasture and feed management - General farm duties and machinery operation - Working collaboratively within a 5-person team About You: - Dairy experience essential (herd management experience an advantage) - Strong animal health and welfare focus - Reliable, proactive, and a good communicator - Able to work in a rostered team environment If you are looking to grow your career in a supportive West Coast farming operation, we’d love to hear from you. Apply with your CV and references.

Are you looking to take the next step within the dairy industry? Or perhaps you're after a role with a better work-life balance in a beautiful location? We may have the perfect opportunity for you. We encourage self-management and personal responsibility, offering a workplace where you're trusted to take ownership of your role while being well-supported. This position comes with great benefits, a clear path for progression, and your hard work will be genuinely recognised and rewarded. We are looking for a Senior Dairy Farm Assistant / Herd Manager on a well established and set up dairy farm in Karamea. We operate a split Herd system with 225 in each Herd. You will be responsible for milking your own Herd of 225 cows and everything else that goes with it, training will be provided to the right person if required. Cows are milked TAD through a 30 bale rotary, with ACR and automatic teat sprayer. We also have two Herd homes which the cows are wintered in and rotated to pasture. The milking platform is 180 hectares with all young stock run on an 80 hectare runoff further up the road. The roster would be 8 & 2 / 8 & 3 4 bedroom recently renovated house available, fully insulated with log burner Located in Karamea, Buller District, West Coast, South Island. Please only NZ Citizens/Residents apply. We are not accredited employers Farm Size (ha) 260 Peak Herd Size (cows) 450 Typical On-farm Staff 3.5 Position Start Date 11/01/2026 Accommodation available Yes 4 bedroom house Hour Type negotiable Average Hours Per week 50 Roster Double rotation - 8 Days on / 2 days Off - 8 Days on / 3 days Off Remuneration paid by Total Package Value (e.g. Salary and/or benefits) Remuneration if Total Package Value (e.g. Salary and/or benefits) $70k Per Year/Salary