General Business Manager

About the Role

Veehof Dairy Services is a combined import, wholesale, and retail business located about 10 minutes north of Ashburton in Dromore, Canterbury, New Zealand. The company supports the dairy sector with products, services, and education, with a strong emphasis on world-class hoof care that improves animal welfare and farm profitability. The business is known for ethical service, ongoing improvement, and values-led relationships.

This is an important leadership opportunity in a business that is continuing to expand and refine how it works with farming clients. The position calls for strong judgement, thoughtful leadership, and the ability to bring out the best in both field-based and sales teams. The hoof trimmers provide on-farm trimming and treatment, while the sales team works with retailers, veterinarians, and farmers to promote products and services. A key part of the role is helping customers gain the knowledge, tools, and data they need to make better lameness-management decisions on farm.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the business with clear direction and strong operational oversight.
• Help shape business strategy and longer-term planning.
• Guide the creation and rollout of quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement across processes and workflows.
• Organise the business so customer service is delivered effectively across both field and sales teams.
• Develop new business opportunities while strengthening existing activities.
• Oversee purchasing, inventory control, supplier management, and freight coordination.
• Ensure equipment, tools, and vehicles are regularly checked, maintained, and safe to use.
• Build and lead a motivated, collaborative, and people-centred team.
• Promote a health and safety culture that extends beyond minimum compliance.

Candidate Profile

To succeed in this position, you will need the experience and capability to support and exceed the organisation’s strategic, operational, and financial objectives. The ideal person will be a confident, commercially aware leader with the ability to manage change and build trust quickly.

Requirements

• A relevant tertiary qualification.
• Proven senior management experience leading customer-focused teams.
• Strong commercial and operational experience in an agricultural environment.
• Experience leading teams through quality-control and improvement initiatives.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships.
• Sound financial capability, including budgeting, cost management, and interpreting business results.
• Comfort using modern business systems, software, and digital tools.
• Practical marketing ability to support branding, promotions, and market communication.
• Mature leadership and change-management skills.

Working Environment

The role reports to the Managing Director and suits a commercially strong leader who can take ownership of the business and help move it forward. You should be comfortable working across farm environments, retail settings, veterinary contexts, and in collaboration with research and academic organisations, as well as with regulators and other stakeholders.

Application Notes

This opportunity is open only to New Zealand residents and citizens. Applications from outside New Zealand will not be considered or replied to. Interested candidates are asked to send a CV and cover letter by email.

How to Apply

Send your CV and cover letter to sandy@veehof.co.nz.