Applications by Application Form, covering letter, and CV, with details of three referees close on Monday, 12 June 2017.

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Applications by Application Form, covering letter, and CV, with details of three referees close on Monday, 12 June 2017."

Transcription

1 Assistant Herd Manager (Fulltime, Permanent) Are you keen to: Make your mark in the dairy industry? Establish yourself in a work environment that encourages continuous development? Learn first-hand from some of the best minds in the business? Then we have the opportunity for you! Owl Farm is currently recruiting for a new Assistant Herd Manager for the 17/18 dairy season. The successful applicant would be progressing towards a Herd Manager role on the farm. The position includes a 3 bedroom house on the property. Owl Farm is a Demonstration Dairy Farm of national repute providing knowledge to the dairy sector through the Joint Venture between St Peter s School and Lincoln University. The farm has a very public profile and requires first class people to help us drive towards our goals. This is an opportunity which won t come up very often and one that will put the successful candidate in good stead for future opportunities within the dairy industry. If you are motivated to make it happen, a team player with a co-operative spirit and driven to continuously challenge boundaries we want to hear from you. About the role: We are seeking a motivated, fit and energetic Assistant Herd Manager to support the day-to-day operation of the farm. This role includes all aspects of the farming operation; milking, stock health, shed management, feeding stock and pasture management, calving and mating, fencing and tractor work. A team of three fulltime staff (Farm Manager, Assistant Herd Manager and Dairy Farm Assistant), operate a highly efficient dairy farm, milking 430 cows through a 36 bale rotary cow shed. Owl Farm is committed to doing our best and ensuring we maintain the highest standards of Environmental protection, Animal Welfare and Safety. The demonstration farm is proudly supported by our industry partners Fonterra Farm Source, LIC, DairyNZ, Westpac, Opus, PGG Wrightson Seeds and Ballance. Our aim is to apply proven research, utilising good on-farm practice and scientific monitoring for the farm to become an exemplar in dairy performance. A reasonably ambitious vision, but one that with the right people on board we are confident of achieving. What experience and skills do you need? We will be looking for someone with several years of experience working in pastoral dairy systems, a good work ethic, high personal standards with an absolute desire to learn and grow within the role. We also absolutely want someone who wants to join in and work in our team. You need to be drug free and will need to pass a satisfactory police check. Applications by Application Form, covering letter, and CV, with details of three referees close on Monday, 12 June For further information, please view our website for a Job Description and Application Form. For further information on Owl Farm please visit to find out more. Applications to be sent to the Human Resources Manager, Jennifer Barker. HR@stpeters.school.nz or post to Private Bag 884, Cambridge, 3450.

2 Job Description Assistant Herd Manager Employer: St Peter s School Trust Board Address: Private Bag 884 Cambridge, 3450 Position Title: Assistant Herd Manager Reports to: Farm Manager Tenure: Permanent Hours: Fulltime PROPERTY INFORMATION Physical Details: Owl Farm is located at 1718 Cambridge Road, SH1, Cambridge approximately three km from Cambridge township. Physical Info Production Feed and Inputs Statistics Year Target Total Farm Area Effective Area Effective area Leased Cows Wintered Peak Cows (1Dec) Total kgms 176, , ,000 MS/cow MS/ha 1,137 1,188 1,098 Ave SCC 112, , ,000 Feed Grown TDM/ha Feed Harvested TDM/Ha Supplements Imported TDM/Ha Nitrogen Applied/effective ha 149kg 163kg 150kg Cowshed 36 Rot 36 Rot 36 Rot Feed infrastructure NIL NIL NIL Herd Figures BW 162/189 PW BW 107/128 PW BW 107/128 PW Industry BW/PW BW 111/123 PW BW 64/73 PW BW 64/73 PW Effluent Storage Clay lined pond Clay lined pond Clay lined pond % farm effluent applied to 44Ha 29% 44Ha 29% 44Ha 29% Soils are a mix of Clays and Sands, on largely flat terraced contour Operational regrassing via crop and regrassing - 15% per year 3 permanent staff members are employed The farm grows Chicory as a summer crop as part of the regrassing plan. Purchased feed includes Palm Kernel which is used to supplement the home made silage and fill feed deficits. All young stock are grazed off-site from 3 months to 21 months of age. The farm is 10% rolling contours while the balance of the property is flat. Facilities: 36 bay rotary farm dairy Covered PKE bunker Effluent irrigator Calf rearing sheds, locked store, implement storage etc. Page 1

3 Accommodation: A three bedroom dwelling is available for the Assistant Herd Manger and partner s exclusive use and no other occupants are permitted without the Employer's approval. The Assistant Herd Manager will be responsible for garden and section maintenance around the dwelling. Any redecoration or changes to the dwelling must have the Employer s approval prior to commencement. Objectives and Duties: Owl Farm is a demonstration dairy farm operated in Joint Venture with Lincoln University and with the support of seven industry partners (Fonterra, DairyNZ, Opus, LIC, Balance, Westpac, PGG Wrightsons Seeds). See demonstration goals and objectives below. The Farm Manager operationally reports to the Demonstration Manager who chairs the Farm Management Committee. The Farm Manager s employing manager is the Business Manager. Owl Farm operates in the public eye, being located at St Peter s School, on the Waikato River and with Te Awa River Trail passing through it. The Goal of Owl Farm: To apply proven research, utilising good on farm practice and scientific monitoring for the farm to become an exemplar in dairy production, economic performance and environmental footprint. Strategic Objectives: Working in collaboration with the wider dairy industry and community to maximise sustainable profit embracing the whole farm system by: Increasing productivity; Achieving an acceptable farm environmental footprint; Meeting or exceeding animal welfare targets; Providing leadership to dairy farmers by demonstrating practices that can be achieved by progressive farmers; Demonstrating career opportunities to students; Provide educational opportunities for students. The Assistant Herd Manager is required to understand the management plan and complete all aspects of herd and farm management including: - 1. Employment Relations: The Assistant Herd Manager is to obey the directions of the Farm Manager in a diligent and cooperative manner and is to immediately advise the Farm Manager of any concerns that they may hold with regards any aspect of their employment in order that such matters may be resolved with urgency. Full and open communication is essential. Use of offensive language towards other people shall not be tolerated. Page 2

4 2. Health & safety: The Assistant Herd Manager is to ensure that they are aware of all health and safety requirements and obligations affecting them within their undertaking of duties on the farm. The Assistant Herd Manager shall be required to follow all farm health and safety policies and procedures and to use all health and safety protective equipment provided to them. The Assistant Herd Manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that they do not do anything that may seek to cause harm to themselves or to any other employee or visitor to the farm. The Assistant Herd Manager is required to report any accident, incidents or near misses to the Farm Manager as soon as practical. 3. Environmental: The Assistant Herd Manager is to be aware of all environmental policies, procedures and practices affecting their role on the farm and to take all practicable steps to ensuring that all standards are met and that they do not knowingly do anything that may cause the farm to breach its environmental compliance requirements. The Assistant Herd Manager is required to report any potential or actual environmental compliance breaches to the Farm Manager as soon as practical. 4. Animal welfare: The Assistant Herd Manager is to be aware of all animal welfare policies, procedures and practices affecting their role on the farm and to take all practicable steps to ensuring that all standards are met and that they do not knowingly do anything that may cause the farm to breach its animal welfare compliance requirements. Specific responsibilities of the Assistant Herd Manager with regards animal welfare shall include, but shall not be limited to: Assist with ensuring all areas of animal performance align with the Farm s annual plan. Assist with promoting herd health and preventing health problems by administering appropriate remedies (as required), taking all necessary precautions. Strategies are to be agreed with the Farm Manager before being implemented. In particular, bloat, trace element disorders, facial eczema and parasite problems are to be controlled. All contact with stock is to be in a quiet and orderly manner. The Assistant Herd Manager shall ensure that when stock are being moved or handled, the welfare of the animals is protected. Observation of any issue, or concern, regarding stock welfare is to be acted on appropriately and in a timely manner. Page 3

5 5. Effective mating: Achieve a condensed and timely calving by managing all aspects of the mating programme, as per the Farm Plan. Assist with identification and offering of all appropriate cows to be mated at the optimum time. Assist with keeping accurate records of all aspects of mating management, including any treatments, mating dates and subsequent heats. 6. Calving: Ensure calving is achieved with minimal wastage, loss, stress or injury to either stock or staff. The Assistant Herd Manager shall ensure they are familiar with all and any signs and symptoms of a cow due to calve or when a cow or calf may be at risk of injury or death during the calving process. Assist with ensuring cows due to calve are identified, separated from the main herd and placed with the calving mob in the appropriate location. Ensure accurate identification and matching of cow to calf. If required, assist as directed with completion of evening checks on cows due to calve. 7. Rearing of Young Stock: The Assistant Herd Manager is to assist in ensuring all available heifer calves are reared to weaning and are grown to agreed target weights, as per the Farm Plan. The Assistant Herd Manager shall assist with maintaining the calf rearing facilities in a hygienic and clean state. Bobby calves are to be treated at all times with the care due to replacement calves. On collection days Bobby calves are to be four days old, appropriately fed and watered and moved carefully into the collection pen. Bobby calves will always be above minimum specified weights and free of inhibitory substances and disease. 8. Maximising herd production: Assistance with all milkings, herd feeding and other day-to-day management, to achieve the targeted MilkSolids/cow and MilkSolids/ hectare, as per the Farm Plan. Morning milkings to be completed in accordance with the Farm Operation Manual. Page 4

6 9. Farm Dairy: Herd test 8 weekly (self-sample). Objective is continuous grade free seasons. Plant The Assistant Herd Manager shall assist with maintaining the milking plant to the required standard, is kept hygienic and is cleaned to the required standard after each milking. The Assistant Herd Manager shall assist with preventing milk from treated cows contaminating the milk due for supply to the factory. Only milk of the finest quality is to be presented for collection. Farm dairy & surrounds The Assistant Herd Manager shall assist with the effective cleaning of the milking shed and yards after every milking and assist with maintaining the milking shed and surrounds to the standards required by the Employer. 10. Achieving optimum feeding and pasture management: Assist with accurate and timely measurement and recording of pasture cover, using this to predict future requirements, as per the Farm Plan. Assist with effective management of herd feeding in conjunction with pasture cover and feed availability to maximise milk production whilst protecting quality and avoiding pasture damage. The Assistant Herd Manager shall assist with ensuring minimum average cow condition scores are at least met as per the Farm Plan. 11. Supplements & crops: Assist with the implementation of the supplement and cropping programme in consultation with the Farm Manager. Contractors will complete hay and silage making and complete crop establishment, including land preparation, planting and regrassing. However, the Assistant Herd Manager is to provide assistance as required including mowing, stacking and covering the stack. Assist with efficient and effective feeding of crops and supplements after consultation and agreement with the Farm Manager. 12. Weed control: No weed plant to reach flowering stage in any season. Assist with the implementation of an effective weed control programme as directed by the Farm Manager. Page 5

7 13. Farm maintenance: Achievement of a tidy, well organised farm. Assist with maintaining all farm buildings, structures, vehicles and farm machinery in clean and working order. After attending to herd duties, the Assistant Herd Manager shall assist with farm maintenance as identified or requested and assist with all farm development work and improvements as directed. Fences and gates are to be kept in sound working condition and any repairs required are to be carried out promptly and to a high standard. Tools and equipment are to be used with care, in accordance with correct operating procedures and are to be returned to the appropriate place in appropriate condition. 14. Water & power: The Assistant Herd Manager shall assist with ensuring electric fences are monitored regularly and any losses in power are to be rectified promptly or reported to the Farm Manager immediately. All stock must have access to good quality drinking water at all times. Water are to be repaired as soon as possible, or reported to the Farm Manager. leaks 15. Effluent: Assist with ensuring environmental requirements are met. The Assistant Herd Manager is to assist in ensuring that the farm is operating within its Resource Consent requirements and the Farm Operating Manual at all times. 16. General duties: To complete all other tasks as may be reasonably and lawfully requested. 17. Record keeping: To assist with maintaining accurate and timely records in the following areas: Herd Records (including calving and mating details) Animal Health Traceability Records (to include all treatments for group and individual animals and completion of the BOFP book). 18. Reporting: The position reports to the Farm Manager. Day-to-day contact shall be maintained as required. Regular meetings shall be held to ensure that all members of the team have a clear understanding of the weekly and monthly plans and targets for the farm. Page 6

8 19. Plant: The Assistant Herd Manager will be required to properly maintain a Farm Bike and any other vehicle or tools/equipment provided by the Employer. 20. Training: Attendance at Discussion Groups and other professional-development activities (with the approval of the Employer) is encouraged to enable continuing growth. 21. Reviews: Two performance reviews are planned in the first twelve months of employment, then annually thereafter. Reviews are planned in the months of October and February in the first year and February in the second and subsequent years. June 2017 Page 7