Team Leader & Farrowing Manager

We are seeking a livestock professional with proven leadership experience – or the potential to step up. This is a unique opportunity to combine people management with hands on livestock farming, in a progressive pig farming business that values work life balance. Experience in pork production is an advantage, but other livestock backgrounds with the drive to learn are encouraged to apply.

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About the Role

As Team Leader & Farrowing Manager, you will lead a team of 3–4 and manage the farm’s farrowing operations. Key responsibilities include:

• Leading daily team meetings, delegating tasks, and communicating priorities clearly
• Supporting staff onboarding, training and development, and managing rosters
• Overseeing farrowing – handling sows and piglets during birth, monitoring for difficulties, ensuring newborn health, maintaining hygiene and bedding, and managing safe weaning
• Managing feed and animal health inventories
• Upholding high standards of animal welfare and biosecurity

Around half of your time will focus on team leadership, the other half on hands on farrowing. While other staff manage finishing, machinery and beef systems, they will rely on you to help them prioritise tasks, perform at their best, and act as the link between team and owners.

This role strengthens frontline leadership, giving the owners capacity to focus on strategy and growth. You will need strong communication and leadership skills, a practical approach, and a positive attitude.

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Why This Role?

Pig farming offers a stable workload and family friendly roster – without the burnout of seasonal dairying. Our team works 7.30am–4pm, Mon–Fri, and the Team Leader will work light duties every third weekend. We aim for under 43 hours/week, leaving time for family, sport, and community.

Work is varied and team based, following three week cycles of mating, farrowing and weaning. It combines close animal care with modern infrastructure and technology.

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About Us

Pukeroa & Oakside Farms is a 286ha pig and beef business owned and operated by Mark and Helen Andrews. From bare land in 2004, they have developed a farrow to finish pig unit of 440 sows, finishing over 10,000 pigs annually for premium brands such as Freedom Farms. The business integrates beef and cropping with cutting edge systems, and maintains the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental care.

The herd is a high health unit, batch farrowed on a three week cycle, with AI and elite genetics. The farm uses technologies including the Apollo electronic sow feeding system, Silometrics feed monitoring, Gallagher water monitoring, and Rotecna finishing equipment. The sow herd is fully recorded in Elite Herd, with a goal of becoming a closed unit in 2026.

The farm also calves 100 Angus x Charolais cows, winters young stock, and finishes up to 550 cattle annually on fodder beet and kale.

Mark and Helen value family, teamwork and humour. They expect honesty and loyalty as a two way street and uphold high standards of animal welfare. As hands on owners, they’ve built their business on honesty, communication and continuous improvement. With recent growth, they are introducing this leadership role to improve team structure and free up time for business development.

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Who We’re Looking For

• Proven team leadership or strong potential to step up
• Livestock farming background (pork preferred, cattle/sheep/dairy also considered)
• Strong communicator who builds positive team culture
• Practical, hands on, proactive problem solver
• Commitment to animal welfare, biosecurity and high farming standards

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What We Offer

• Competitive remuneration: $70K–$100K ($31–$45/hr), hourly paid
• Family friendly roster: Mon–Fri, under 43 hrs/week, light 1 in 3 weekend roster
• Supportive environment where leadership is valued and developed
• Modern facilities and equipment, with wet weather gear and boots provided
• A family oriented workplace that respects your time off
• Location in South Canterbury – affordable lifestyle, great schools, close knit community, and outdoor opportunities from skiing to fishing
• Accommodation may be available depending on circumstances
• Video from Te Pari featuring Helen: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=8150415571694324

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Other Details

• Preferred start: October 2025 (flexible for the right candidate)
• Applications welcome from Working Holiday Visa holders with pork industry experience – a fantastic chance to live and work in one of New Zealand’s best regions during your OE
• Full position description available on request

Please send your CV (required) and cover letter (preferred) telling us why this role excites you.