From day to day stock handling to pasture management, animal health, machinery operation, and farm leadership, each role has its own purpose and responsibilities on a sheep and beef property. This page contains resources to help you understand what positions are available, what each position involves and how you can progress from one role to the next.
Sheep, beef and deer farming offers heaps of ways to get started and move up. You can begin in hands-on roles like junior shepherding or general farm work, then build skills to step into specialist jobs, leadership positions and even farm management or ownership. Each role adds new responsibilities and real-world experience, giving you a clear pathway to grow your confidence, capability and future in the industry.
- Sheep and beef career pathways map (PDF, 72.1KB) - check out the Sheep and Beef Career Pathways Map showing key farm roles and how they connect, from beginner positions through to leadership.
- Explore how a Head Shepherd combines hands on stock work with leadership, problem solving and farm wide decision making – example Job Analysis of a Head Shepherd Role (PDF, 334.1KB).
- Explore what it means to manage stock, land, budgets and a team while driving the farm’s long‑term success – example Job Analysis of a Farm Managers Role (PDF, 399.1KB).
- Job analysis template (PDF, 458KB).
- Tahatu is a career navigator – discover career possibilities.
- Te Mata Raraunga is the shared platform for consistent and accurate vocational education and workforce data at an iwi, regional and national level.
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Image supplied by Whangara Farms