Apiarist / Beekeeper

Accomplice LimitedOtherWaimakariri, Canterbury1w ago

* Seasonal work through to May, with the opportunity to return year after year

* Varied beekeeping work across 2,000+ hives throughout North Canterbury

* Join a small, experienced team where good beekeepers are valued and trusted

Know your way around a commercial apiary? Come join a crew that values good beekeepers.

We're helping an established, family-owned beekeeping business in Oxford find another experienced beekeeper to join the team.

With over 2,000 hives across North Canterbury, their own extraction plant and the season already underway, there's plenty happening.

It's a small, experienced crew where everyone pulls their weight, looks after the gear and gets on with the job. You'll be trusted to use your experience, work alongside people who know their stuff and be part of a business that values good, reliable beekeepers.

And if things work out well, there's the opportunity to come back for future seasons too.

What you'll be doing

You'll be involved in the day-to-day running of a busy commercial beekeeping operation, working alongside an experienced Operations Manager.

There's plenty of variety throughout the season, including:

* Checking hives, monitoring colony strength and keeping on top of hive health

* Identifying and managing varroa, AFB and other disease issues

* Feeding, splitting, building up hives and queen exclusion

* Preparing and moving hives to manuka sites

* Honey harvesting and working in the extraction plant

* Driving manual vehicles and trailers between apiary sites

* Looking after equipment, vehicles and beekeeping gear

The work takes you across Waimakariri, Hurunui and the Kaikoura district, so you won't be stuck in the same place every day.

What we're looking for

We're after someone who's worked in beekeeping and knows what's involved when the season gets busy.

You don't need someone looking over your shoulder all day, but you're also happy to work as part of a team and pitch in wherever needed.

Ideally, you'll bring:

* Solid beekeeping experience and a good understanding of the seasonal cycle

* Confidence managing hive health, including varroa and AFB

* Experience with hive inspections, feeding, splitting, migration and harvesting

* A full NZ driver's licence, with experience driving manual vehicles and towing trailers

* The fitness to handle heavy lifting and long days when needed

* A reliable, practical approach and a willingness to get stuck in

Above all, we're looking for someone who's honest, dependable and takes pride in doing the job properly.

It's a small team, so being able to rely on each other matters just as much as knowing your way around a hive.

A few things worth knowing

Like most commercial beekeeping operations, the weather and the bees dictate the working day.

There'll be early starts, longer days and occasional weekend work during the busy periods. You'll also need to be comfortable spending up to a week working away from home at times, with accommodation and away allowances provided.

The role is based out of Oxford, and we're looking for someone who can join the current season, which runs through until the end of May.

What's in it for you?

* Competitive hourly pay based on experience, paid weekly

* Company vehicles, PPE and beekeeping equipment provided

* Accommodation and a nightly allowance when working away

* Plenty of variety across hive work, migration, harvesting and extraction

* A small, experienced team where you'll be trusted to get on with the job

* The opportunity to return for future seasons if it's a good fit for everyone

If you're an experienced beekeeper looking for a good crew, plenty of hands-on work and a business where your contribution is genuinely valued, we'd like to hear from you.

Keen to know more?

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