You should be able to work outdoors when required, including when plants are wet, during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity, and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours may vary, and you may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honeybees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job.
Work is done outdoors for long periods and requires prolonged periods of standing and/or walking, repetitive movements, and frequent bending and/or stooping. You should be physically fit and able to handle, lift, and carry heavy or bulky objects (products, containers) in accordance with the specified lifting requirements. Although training will be provided, a minimum of three years of work experience or relevant qualification is preferably required.
Under the supervision of a senior beekeeper, you will carry out the following duties:
Perform basic duties related to commercial beekeeping and honey production.
Become familiar with working with bees in all stages, from egg through mature workers, drones, and queens.
Work on all aspects of beekeeping. Under the direction of the Beekeeper, insert honeycombs into hives.
Access colonies to determine if food or medicine is needed.
Feed and medicate bees for diseases, parasites, and pests. Sterilize hives and burn diseased hives or bee colonies.
Learn how to raise and replace queens, make divides, and prepare bees and bee equipment for pollination.
Make splits, super hives, and pull/remove frames of honey covered with bees and shake into cages.
Manipulate and service hive structures. Haul bees to and from different hive locations ensuring healthy and productive honeybee colonies. Load, unload, and move bees/boxes.
Prepare hives for indoor/outdoor wintering. Must have no fear of bees and be non-allergic to bee stings, pollen, honey, or other products of the hive. Mow, cut, and weed fields.
Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks.
Bending, stooping, and kneeling are required.
Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws.
Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies.
Report any problems to the Senior Beekeeper.
Type: Full time, Permanent
Number of Positions: 3
Location: Bay of Plenty Region
Pay Range: $29.66 per hour to $32.00 per hour
Minimum hours: 30 hours per week and maximum hours may go up to 60 per week during busy periods.
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