Operations Team Leader | Kinburn Farming Ltd

Category : Operations Manager

Location : Hawke's Bay

Rural Directions

Operations Team Leader | Kinburn Farming Ltd

Located in Poukawa, just 20 minutes south of Hastings, Hawke’s Bay.

Genuine opportunity to professionally develop with exposure to industry leaders.

Insight into a large-scale GAP Assured sheep and cattle finishing operation.

WHERE

Kinburn Farming Limited (KFL) is a sheep and cattle finishing operation based in Hawke’s Bay, with a combined total effective area of approximately 1458 hectares. The business is governed by the KFL Board and runs under the guidance of the Business Manager and the Operations Manager, who is an equity partner within the business.

A newly established Operations Team Leader role has been created to assist the Operations Manager with the increased scale of the business. People are highly valued within the KFL business, and the introduction of this Operations Team Leader role will enable more direct leadership on the ground for the farming team.

The farming operation carries 20,000 su, with a 65 : 35 sheep to cattle ratio. The business is GAP Assured allowing them to supply premium lamb to Atkins Ranch and also graze and finish Wagyu Steers for Firstlight Foods, alongside their Friesian bull finishing operation. The business focuses on continual improvement under the guiding principles of Four Pillars – People, Profit, Planet, Progress.

WHAT

Reporting to the Operations Manager, this Operations Team Leader role will assist in all aspects of the business to ensure a sustainable operation for KFL. It is a hands‑on farming role with specific responsibilities in team leadership, employee professional development and mentoring, and in the day‑to‑day allocation of tasks.

You will help to design, implement, update and monitor the overall farm plan in conjunction with the Operations Manager while also assisting with feed budgeting, including monitoring grass covers. This data will be utilised to assist with designing and organising daily and weekly stock movements and management.

You will help ensure stock target weights are achieved, best practice animal health and welfare is followed, and that all farming and business activities operate within regulatory requirements and market expectations (e.g., GAP Accreditation) to achieve sustainability.

WHO

We seek applications from those with hands‑on farming experience who have :

• Experience or aspiration to be a team leader with the ability to lead and organise people while fostering a positive team culture.
• Technical competence in pastoral farming, ideally through a mixture of practical experience and academic training.
• Strong stockmanship skills and a working dog team.
• Experience with technological tools for management and competent in using and training others in spreadsheets and recording / monitoring programmes.
• Ability to measure grass covers, feed budget and implement stock rotations.
• Animal health identification and treatment knowledge.
• Physical fitness and energy.
• Full, clean New Zealand Driver’s Licence.
• High integrity, honesty and pride in the work, and ability to take directions from others.
• Desire for continual improvement and adaptability.
• Desire to contribute to a positive marketplace perception of the business.

WHY

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Only job seekers who have NZ working rights will be eligible for this role.

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