Dry Stock Manager

Offrey Farms Ltd is a values-based family business focused on:

• Opportunities

• Farming for the Future

• Family

• Rural community

• Environmental sustainability; and 

• EnjoYment

We are looking for a dry stock manager for our 295ha farm located 4kms south of Dipton. The farm is run in conjunction with our 600 cow dairy farm at Kauana, Centre Bush. 

This is an exciting role that offers real variety.  We’re passionate about our  stock and we’re looking for someone who shares our commitment to best practice stockmanship.  We rear 150 replacements for the dairy herd, and 400 beef cross & friesian bull calves through to finishing. We also run a beef herd of 50 spring calving Charolais cows. You’ll have the skills to give our youngstock the best possible start and ensure proactive feed management to achieve target weights for all stock. Strong pasture management skills will be required. You’ll also be responsible for the day to day management of the wintering for the dairy herd and beef stock (including shifting animals on crop) so you must be a team player and enjoy working with stock. 

The role will also have responsibility for all day to day maintenance on the property, fencing, weed control and general farm maintenance. There is also ongoing development work to be done on part of the farm that has been recently acquired so fencing skills are a necessity. 

The role also has a requirement to assist with the tractor work on both properties, including cultivation, seeding, mowing, and fertiliser. You’ll need a commitment to healthy and safe work and be capable of maintaining and operating our modern equipment.  You need to have high standards and keep our farm, machinery and vehicles in good order. 

As farm owners we’ll be on farm and hands-on. This means you need to enjoy being part of a team, sharing knowledge and skills.  We’ll collaborate with you to determine the work plan and you’ll need to be comfortable taking responsibility for working independently to deliver the outcomes we agree. The farm is operated using lean management principles, focusing on continuous improvement, safety and eliminating waste.

We’re looking for someone with:

• effective communication and time management skills

• the desire to collaborate to identify and deliver the agreed work plan

• a high standard of work and record keeping (familiarity with Minda, NAIT, Farm IQ, Halter, GPS and autosteer beneficial)

• a commitment to maintaining a well presented and tidy property (including farm accommodation)

• a good attitude towards Health and Safety

• commitment to best practice environmental management.

• the ability to find smarter, more efficient ways to work.

We offer:

• a supportive team culture based on strong family values

• support for your development; we’ve worked our way to farm ownership and we’re passionate about the primary sector and helping others to grow

• real role variety, no two days will be the same

• a safe and drug free workplace

• growth and progression opportunities including in our wider business

• a favourable roster (either 5 and 2 or 10 and 3)

• a warm, well presented 3 bedroom house with school bus at the gate to primary (Dipton) and just along the road to secondary (Central Southland College) schools. 

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or valid NZ work visa