Laboratory Technician - Newstead (Seasonal)

About the Company

LIC is a farmer-owned cooperative that has supported herd improvement across New Zealand’s dairy industry for over 115 years. Its work centres on genetics, dependable testing and diagnostics, integrated on-farm software, and strong customer support, all aimed at helping farmers make better day-to-day decisions.

As a long-standing cooperative, LIC serves farmers, their families, and rural communities with a long-term focus. The organisation relies on the contribution of its people across farm, laboratory, and support functions to help New Zealand farmers achieve success.

About the Role

LIC is hiring seasonal team members for its Artificial Breeding division as Seasonal Production Laboratory Technicians. In this role, you will join a collaborative laboratory team responsible for preparing and testing semen samples.

This position is based in Newstead, Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand, and is an onsite seasonal contract role. Work patterns and start times can shift during the busy season, especially around October and November.

Seasonal Terms

• The assignment is scheduled to start in August and finish in December.
• Working hours can change depending on demand, with a minimum commitment of 40 hours per fortnight and as many as 40 hours per week during the busiest processing period.
• The operation runs seven days a week during peak season, following a 5-on, 2-off roster.
• The two rest days are consecutive, although they may fall on weekdays rather than a Saturday and Sunday.

Key Responsibilities

The role involves careful laboratory work supporting semen sample preparation and testing, along with maintaining quality and accuracy in day-to-day operations.

Additional Requirements

• You should be a strong team player with clear communication skills to work well in a laboratory environment.
• Good organisation and time management are important to handle tasks efficiently and meet deadlines.
• You need to be open to learning and comfortable taking on a variety of duties.
• Accurate record-keeping is essential to support traceability and dependable data.
• A positive, proactive approach and a focus on quality and ongoing improvement are valued.
• A science qualification at tertiary level or prior laboratory experience is desirable, but not mandatory.

Summary

This is an opportunity to contribute to an organisation shaping the future of dairy in New Zealand while gaining hands-on experience in a busy seasonal laboratory environment.