Job Details

Category: Farm Manager
Location: Hawke's Bay

Rural Directions

Farm Manager | Brownrigg Agriculture

• Located in Poukawa, Hawke’s Bay and within close proximity to town.

• Be part of a supportive, people-focused work culture.

• Join a business with an excellent track record in livestock finishing.

WHERE
Brownrigg Agriculture is largescale agribusiness based in Hawke’s Bay. Spanning 7,000 hectares of freehold and leasehold land, the company produces premium crops (squash, onions, maize) and livestock (lamb and cattle), with a focus on high standards of animal husbandry and traceability.

Organised across five farms, Brownrigg Agriculture emphasizes strong on-farm leadership, career progression for its team, and a proven track record in livestock finishing, including winter lamb and bull-beef.

Puketio is a 1,170 ha mixed farming operation featuring lamb and beef finishing alongside high-value summer crops. The farm includes 200 ha of steeper hills, 880 ha of rolling hills, and the remainder as flats. This year, it is on track to finish 22,000 lambs and approximately 480 2-year-old bulls, supported by an Angus breeding herd grazing the steeper areas. Animal performance is driven by a diverse mix of forages, including lucerne, plantain, chicory, kale, and winter annual grasses.

WHAT
This role will appeal to an individual who has proven themselves as a high performing Farm Manager wanting to progress onto a larger scale finishing operation close to town.

Working alongside the Livestock Business Manager (LBM), the appointee will be responsible for implementing operational plans and overseeing day-to-day activities at Puketio. This includes monitoring and reporting farm performance, contributing to the wider Livestock team, and leading the development of staff under their management while supporting others across the business to do the same.

You will manage a team of 2–3 shepherds, with additional support from the shared Farm Support Team. Daily responsibilities include stock rotations, pasture management, animal health and welfare, weighing and condition scoring, record-keeping, reporting, health and safety, and general farm maintenance.

This is a rewarding opportunity for someone with a passion for finishing lambs and bulls, providing the chance to develop expertise in feed management and finishing systems under the guidance of the LBM. There is scope for ongoing growth, including refining skills, gaining experience across the business, and contributing new ideas within a structured livestock leadership team.

To read more about the position and farm layout/business structure please visit – https://bit.ly/48wzurR

WHO
Our client is looking for a skilled and motivated Farm Manager with strong leadership, livestock finishing expertise, and a passion for developing a high-performing team. The below are also key to success in this role:

• Excellent understanding of the fundamentals of farming.
• Proven performance in a Farm Manager role.
• Strong understanding of feed quality and supply/demand.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• Ability to lead a team and have a passion for developing staff.
• Interest and ability in utilising technology and modern systems, experience with Farmax would be advantageous.
• Strong forward planning and time management skills.
• High level of stockmanship with a team of 3 - 5 working dogs.
• Accurate record keeping and reporting skills – including competence working in spreadsheets, familiarity with Farmax, and comfort with technology.

WHY

• Strong support systems and knowledgeable management focused on upskilling employees.
• Opportunities to take on more responsibility.
• Mixed land unit farming system.
• Excellent work culture with a strong emphasis on valuing staff.
• Role involves working on a large-scale finishing operation with well-established infrastructure.
• Tasks offer a level of autonomy and mustering experience.
• Business uses modern technologies and systems.
• Three-bedroom family home with modern kitchen and bathroom, wood burner, pool, and great location.
• Puketio is located 10 minutes south of Hastings, with easy access to beaches, wineries, sports, and other Hawke’s Bay attractions.

Head to www.ruraldirections.co.nz/jobs to apply.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so apply ASAP!

Only job seekers who have NZ working rights will be eligible for this role.

Date Posted: 2025-09-26