Our Co-operative 

Fonterra’s strength is in the collective | Te Mātāpuna toa takitini 

Here at Fonterra, we are committed to growing our people. We value you and your career progression and are excited that you are taking this next step in your career journey with us. We are proud to offer a wide variety of roles across the Co-op, ensuring that no matter what business unit or stage of life you're in, there's a good chance we've got something to suit.

About us | He kupu mō mātou 

At Fonterra, our strength lies in our commitment to sustainable practices and innovation. The Nutrient Management team within Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory is dedicated to the sustainable management of nutrients from Fonterra’s manufacturing sites across New Zealand. We manage 29 Fonterra-owned farms, focusing on the management, sale, transportation, and spreading of nutrient-dense streams. Our vision is to achieve sustainable nutrient management on farms, adhering to Fonterra’s Global Sustainability standards and guidelines, while maximizing the value of nutrients and secondary products.

Darfield Farm, located just five minutes northwest of the Darfield township in the thriving Selwyn District, is seeking a passionate Farm Manger to join the Fonterra South Island Farm Team. Darfield Farm spans 950 hectares over two blocks, with 675 hectares irrigated by ten Valley pivots. Darfield Farm is renowned for exporting high-quality pasture to supply Fonterra Shareholders via a cut carry system undertaken by local contractors.  Lamb grazing compliments the system over periods when pasture harvest is not feasible, along with a small amount of school calves. The Darfield Farm employees two full-time staff that are responsible for the day to day running of the farm and ensuring the health and safety processes are at the highest of standards.

About the opportunity |Mō tēnei tūranga 

This is a pivotal leadership role where you will support our local manufacturing sites by managing wastewater and high-strength nutrients on the farm. Reporting to our Regional Farm Ops Manager, you will lead transformational change on-farm, optimising irrigation capacity and nutrient spreading activities within environmental and regulatory limits. Your leadership will ensure profitable farming operations that deliver returns to Fonterra shareholders. This is an opportunity to drive innovation and sustainable practices in one of Fonterra’s largest farming portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

As the Farms Manager, you will drive sustainable and profitable farming operations by achieving sustainability targets for nitrogen leaching rates across multiple farm blocks, ensuring compliance with Fonterra’s sustainability standards and industry best practices. You will manage farm financials, provide input into business planning for capital replacement plans and budgets, and ensure the effective management of significant assets within the farms portfolio. You will lead and motivate teams to lift performance, identify innovative commercial opportunities, and manage stakeholder relationships with NZ Manufacturing, local farmers, external contractors, and rural service professionals. Collaboration with irrigation and environmental teams is essential, as is managing relationships with contractors to meet operational objectives. Health and safety are paramount, and you will lead activities such as hazard identification and risk assessment processes, manage incidents, and ensure compliance with safety systems.

About you | Moe koe

With a strong background in animal management, you are a self-starter who can work independently with a passion for learning and growth. You bring:

- A tertiary qualification in Agribusiness (preferred but not essential).

- At least 10 years of practical farming experience, including 5 years in senior farm management roles in large-scale operations.

- Proven ability to manage multiple farms, strong stakeholder management, and experience in people management and team leadership.

- In-depth knowledge of large-scale farm management, farm financials, health and safety systems, and farm-related software programs.

- A focus on delivering sustainable performance, effective collaboration, and driving meaningful change.

- A strong commitment to health and safety.

This is a permanent role where you will be working an average of 50 hours per week. The successful applicant will be provided the option of accommodation on farm in a modern three-bedroom one office house.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead one of Fonterra’s largest farming portfolios, driving sustainable practices and innovation. You will play a crucial role in shaping the future of nutrient management and contribute to Fonterra’s global sustainability goals.

Are you excited about this opportunity but may only meet some requirements?  

That's not a problem. We are committed to growing our internal talent and building a diverse workplace; therefore, we are open to looking at applicants with excellent transferable skills. If that's you, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or one of our other opportunities. 

Sound good to you? If you are interested, please apply now so we can continue to solve for better, together.  

 You, me, us together. Tᾱtou tᾱtou. 

 Applications for this role will close 28 May 2025