Who are we?

Duxton Bees is a farmgate beekeeping Company. The primary objective of Duxton Bees is to operate a safe, sustainable and profitable Apiary operation. Duxton Bees intends to become one of the largest commercial beekeeping businesses in Australia, supporting agriculture through pollination services and honey production across different geographical locations within Australia.

We are seeking a Senior Apiarist to assist with the success and growth of the apiculture operation and to pursue the highest standards of beehives, land management, and beekeeping practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Organise, supervise and manage workflow of Apiarists, Beekeepers and Truck Drivers;
• Timely and complete management of hives during rounds and season as per the seasonal plan;
• Assist the Apiary Manager in overseeing the Beekeeping team;
• Oversee the apiary activities including allocating duties to Apiarists, Beekeepers and Truck Drivers, planning beekeeping schedules and ensuring adequate human resources are rostered to meet beekeeping requirements;
• Assist with recruitment, selection and training of Apiarists and Beekeepers;
• Liaise with team to organise movement of bee hives and associated staff travel and logistics;
• Support and encourage Apiarists and Beekeepers by guiding their learning so that they may maximise their potential, develop their beekeeping skills, improve their performance and become beekeepers of the future;
• Assist in all aspects of shed management required to ensure the efficiency of beekeeping operation;
• Identify and control hive diseases whilst coaching and training the beekeeping team on maintaining good beehive hygiene;
• Assess the strength of beehives and report findings to the Apiary Manager from the beekeeping team;
• To assess and control hive swarming, report and take appropriate actions as necessary;
• Review budgets and make recommendations for purchasing of new beekeeping equipment and workflow management;
• Continuously strive to improve beekeeping understanding and technique and pass down knowledge to Apiarists, Beekeepers and other team staff;
• Complete hive manipulations, including locating and replacing queens; and
• Manage the feed and record food storage of beehives;

Key requirements

• Relevant bachelor degree or higher qualification plus at least five (5) years of relevant experience, or if no qualification held, at least seven (7) years of relevant apiary experience;
• Proven ability to develop and leverage technical expertise in beekeeping practices;
• Demonstrated leadership and management abilities with evidence of effectively managing and overseeing beekeeping teams;
• Full Drivers licence required, HC license and Forklift license preferable;
• Physical fitness is essential, with no known allergies to bees\bee stings;
• Resilient nature and enjoyment of outdoor work;
• Experience in the agricultural or horticultural industries, possessing a comprehensive understanding of Biosecurity risks and challenges;
• Commitment to ongoing professional development, including a willingness to undertake further studies as necessary; and
• Availability to travel away from home during honey season (September to February).

An annual salary of $82,000 to $84,000 per year plus superannuation based on a 38-hour week.

This is an exciting and varied role, requiring outdoor work in the elements, physical fitness and will require extensive travel\time away from home during both honey and pollination periods.

We are committed to developing our Beekeepers and providing opportunities for personal and professional growth within the business.