Christchurch - Otautahi, Permanent Full-Time
Are you a seasoned professional in Dairy Operations at scale? Ngai Tahu Farming is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee our Dairy Farming Operations, ensuring they meet performance, profitability, and sustainability goals aligned with our values. This role is ideal for a hands-on leader passionate about empowering teams to deliver operational excellence across large-scale, multi-farm environments.
About the Role
As the Operations Manager - Dairy & Assets you will:
Lead and inspire a team of sharemilkers and managed farms to achieve top tier farming performance, focusing on continuous improvement and farm innovation.
Drive strategic planning and operational efficiency for all assigned farms, working closely with farm managers to achieve production, budget, and environmental targets.
Implement robust financial, asset, and resource management strategies, ensuring compliance and operational sustainability.
Foster a positive, high-performance culture, aligning with Ngai Tahu values of Whanaukataka (relationships), Tohukataka (knowledge), and Kaitiakitaka (guardianship).
Actively develop strategic farm plans and business innovation for sustainable growth and profitability.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership : Oversee farm operations, embedding best practices for production, cost management, and sustainability.
People Management : Lead, motivate, and mentor farm managers, ensuring a collaborative and cohesive team that delivers on business objectives.
Asset Management : Manage farm assets including infrastructure and equipment, ensuring they are maintained and utilized effectively.
Financial Oversight : Lead budgeting, forecasting, and cost management for all assigned farms, ensuring alignment with Ngai Tahu Farming's financial objectives.
Health, Safety, and Environmental Compliance : Drive a culture of health, safety, and environmental responsibility across all farm operations.
Stakeholder Engagement : Build strong relationships with internal teams and key external stakeholders to advance strategic and operational goals.
Essential Skills & Qualifications
To thrive in this role, you will bring:
10+ years of experience in managing large-scale or multi-farm dairy operations, with demonstrated success in production, financial, and team oversight.
Sharemilking Systems - A strong understanding of the different sharemilking systems, with an affinity for these roles and ability to manage these relationships including the contractual requirements.
Strong pasture , milk production, animal health, environmental compliance, agronomy and irrigation understanding to enable you to support and mentor the team to drive positive outcomes in all these area's
Expertise in asset management across diverse farming infrastructure.
Financial acumen in budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
Proven leadership ability , with skills in coaching, mentoring, and building high-performing teams.
Cultural Awareness: An understanding of Maori economic aspirations, structures, and tikanga, with empathy toward Maori economic development.
Commitment to Health & Safety and best practices in sustainable farming.
Desirable Qualifications :
Relevant tertiary qualification.
Knowledge of Te Reo Maori and Ngai Tahu culture is advantageous.
Why Join Us?
This is your chance to be part of Ngai Tahu Farming's journey toward sustainable and profitable growth. We offer an environment that values people development, teamwork, and innovative thinking, with a strong commitment to Maori values and community wellbeing.
Ready to lead with purpose?
Apply now :
Echelon Group is leading this recruitment process for Ngai Tahu Farming. If you are interested in applying for this role, please contact Gerald van Looy at Echelon Group directly, for further information or to submit your application.
Please note that Applications close 29th November 2024
#J-18808-Ljbffr