Queen Rearing Technician
About Manuka Health
Manuka Health is a high performing team of 200 people and about 1.5 billion bees, working together to become the leading Manuka honey company globally. At the heart of our collective effort is a culture of care. We care deeply about our people, products, consumers, communities, environment, and our impact on the world.
Our vertically integrated business starts at the source with a dedicated beekeeping and land management division, specialized extraction, processing, packing, and testing facilities, and highly experienced sales, marketing, operations, and leadership teams. Through our secure supply chain, rigorous quality control and collective expertise we produce and deliver our trusted New Zealand bee products to over 45 countries worldwide. We have an ambitious growth strategy to sustainably grow our business and New Zealand's Manuka honey industry for the betterment of people and the planet.
The role
We are looking for an experienced beekeeper to join our queen breeding operation based in Te Awamutu. This role will be required to assist with the success and growth of our queen production operation. To pursue the highest standards of beehives and queen production. To assist with the mentorship and growth of other beekeepers, which report both directly and indirectly to the Apiary manager. Some key job responsibilities include:
· Identify and control hive diseases and maintain good beehive hygiene
· Assess the strength of beehives and report findings
· Complete hive manipulations, including locating and replacing queens
· To feed and record food storage of hives
· To make up nucleus colonies to receive queen cells
· To efficiently super hives to produce honey for feed
· To support the team in all aspects of queen production. Specifically, introducing queen cells to nucs, caging queens, nuc maintenance and colony maintenance, genetic information capture.
· To effectively winter down hives in preparation for winter
Our ideal beekeepers will have the following attributes and skills:
· Strong knowledge of apiary operations and queen production processes.
· Effective communication skills for coordinating between team members and management to assess hive health and productivity
· The ability to follow direction and process
· The want and drive to create strong and healthy hive
· Have a full class 1 license and be confident driving off-road
· As an experienced beekeeper you will be aware that we require flexibility to work longer hours in the season and travel away from home when required
· Willingness to get “stuck in” immediately and fill all beekeeping requirements
· Attention to detail and reputation of doing it right the first time
· Physically strong and fit and energetic
In return we will offer you:
· Competitive remuneration
· Southern Cross Healthcare insurance
· The opportunity to join a great company
· Working with great people who are growing a successful beekeeping operation
Applicants for this position are required to have a current NZ work visa, or to be a New Zealand resident or citizen, currently based within New Zealand.
Applications for this role will take you to the advertisers site.
