OPERATIONS MANAGER
Taranaki-based | Dairy Farming
Lead people. Drive performance. Shape the future of a growing dairy business.
Theland Farm Group is an established dairy farming business milking more than 20,000 cows across Canterbury, Taranaki and Waikato. We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead our Taranaki hub, overseeing two dairy farms and three support blocks, with the portfolio expected to grow. These farms are located between Hawera and Bulls.
This is a full-time leadership role responsible for the overall performance, planning and coordination of the Taranaki farming business. Working closely with farm operators, the General Manager, contractors and external advisors, you will help deliver strong production, financial, environmental and people outcomes through our low-input, pasture-based farming system.
THE ROLE
Reporting to Theland Farm Group General Manager, you will lead, mentor and support our on-farm management teams, ensuring they have the systems, information and resources to make effective decisions. You will translate business strategy into practical on-farm action, while maintaining clear expectations and accountability.
Key responsibilities
Dairy & technical management:
Support farm teams to achieve production and performance targets.
Work with vets on mating, calving and animal health plans.
Develop winter feed, pasture and supplement budgets with the General Manager.
Maximise grass utilisation and performance through milk incentive programmes.
Leadership & people:
Lead, mentor and coach farm managers and sharemilkers.
Be the key point of contact for on-farm management teams.
Build strong relationships through clear, practical communication.
Promote a strong health and safety culture.
Technology & systems:
Maintain accurate farm records and timely reporting.
Use Microsoft 365 and agricultural platforms including Trev, MINDA and MyBallance.
Financial management:
Assist with R&M, capital expenditure and development budgets.
Monitor expenditure, project progress and business performance.
Environmental management:
Work with farm teams and advisors to operate within nutrient and water constraints.
Ballance environmental, production and financial objectives.
Support initiatives that improve long-term environmental performance.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for someone with strong dairy farming knowledge, a hands-on, can-do attitude and excellent people and business management skills. You will be a confident leader who can operate at both a strategic and practical level, with a passion for developing people, solving problems and helping farm teams succeed. Experience in a pasture-based, low-input dairy system would be highly valued.
WHAT WE OFFER
$150,000 salary per annum
Company vehicle, phone and laptop
Leadership of a growing dairy farming operation
Genuine responsibility for business performance and farm development
The opportunity to work with an experienced team across a large-scale, progressive dairy business
APPLY NOW
If you’re ready for a role where your leadership, dairy expertise and business skills can make a real difference, we’d like to hear from you.
Please apply online or send a cover letter and current CV, including references, to: [email protected]
Applicants must currently be living in New Zealand and hold a current work visa.
Applications close 10th October 2026, however, we may appoint earlier if the right candidate is found.