Silver Fern Farms Jobs: Apply, Salary & Career Guide

If you’re looking into Silver Fern Farms jobs, you’re probably either a New Zealander considering a career at one of the country’s largest meat processors, or an overseas worker wondering if a role there could lead to higher-paying opportunities abroad. With over 5,000 employees across more than 14 processing plants, Silver Fern Farms is a major employer — and its application process is more structured than many expect.

Silver Fern Farms employees worldwide: 5,000+ (Silver Fern Farms Careers) ·
Current job openings: 41 (via company job search) ·
Primary processing locations: 14+ plants

Who is Silver Fern Farms owned by?

Silver Fern Farms is a unique partnership: 50% owned by Shanghai Maling, a Chinese state-owned food company, and 50% by New Zealand farmer shareholders. This structure, established in 2016, gives the company strong ties to both the Chinese market and local agricultural communities. The arrangement is detailed on the company’s official site (Silver Fern Farms (official website)).

Is Silver Fern Farms Chinese owned?

Not fully — but the Chinese state has a significant stake. Shanghai Maling holds exactly half the shares, while the other half remains with the New Zealand farmers who originally formed the cooperative. This means the company is not majority Chinese-owned, but the Chinese government has substantial influence through its shareholding. The ownership structure is publicly listed on the company’s website (Silver Fern Farms (official website)).

Who is the CEO of Silver Fern Farms?

Dan Boulton has been the CEO of Silver Fern Farms since 2023. He stepped into the role with a background in agribusiness and leadership within the company. Boulton’s appointment was announced via the company’s newsroom (Silver Fern Farms (official website)).

Who is Dan Boulton at Silver Fern Farms?

Dan Boulton took over as Chief Executive Officer in 2023, succeeding previous leadership. He is responsible for the company’s overall strategy, including its expansion into new markets and the development of its graduate programme. His profile is available on the company’s leadership page (Silver Fern Farms (official website)).

What jobs pay $200,000 a year in Ireland?

While Silver Fern Farms jobs focus on New Zealand, many overseas workers compare opportunities abroad. In Ireland, roles that pay $200,000 (approx. €185,000) are typically in IT, medicine, law, and senior finance. According to Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, the Critical Skills Occupations List includes software developers, cybersecurity specialists, medical consultants, and engineers — all roles that can command high six-figure salaries.

Which jobs are in shortage in Ireland?

Ireland’s government publishes a Critical Skills Occupations List that identifies sectors with skill shortages. As of 2025, the list includes ICT professionals, healthcare workers (doctors, nurses), engineers, and scientists. The list is updated regularly by the Department of Enterprise (Irish Department of Enterprise).

What is the easiest job to make 100K a year?

Reaching $100,000 (€93,000) in Ireland is most achievable in tech sales, senior administrative roles, or experienced trades like electrical engineering. However, “easy” is relative — many of these roles require specific certifications or years of experience. For comparison, a Silver Fern Farms processing role at $28.82 per hour (approx. NZD $60,000 annually) is a lower barrier to entry (Trade Me Jobs).

Is €70,000 a good salary in Ireland?

Yes — €70,000 is well above the Irish median salary of around €45,000 (based on 2025 estimates from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office). That means a single person earning €70,000 can live comfortably in most Irish cities, though housing costs in Dublin can eat into that. For someone comparing Silver Fern Farms jobs with Irish opportunities, €70,000 is roughly equivalent to NZD $120,000 — significantly higher than the $60,000 typical of a processing role.

What is the easiest job to get in Ireland?

Entry-level jobs in retail, hospitality, and customer service are the easiest to get in Ireland, especially in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. These roles usually require no experience beyond a good attitude. However, they pay less — often €25,000–€30,000 per year. If you’re after a quick start, these are the most accessible (according to Irish Department of Enterprise).

How to apply for Silver Fern Farms jobs?

The application process for Silver Fern Farms is straightforward but has several stages. Start by visiting the careers portal at careers.silverfernfarms.com. There you can search for current openings by location or job type.

Where can I find Silver Fern Farms application forms?

Silver Fern Farms does not use downloadable PDF application forms. All applications are submitted online through the careers portal. For each role, you’ll need to create an account, upload your CV, and answer a few screening questions. The graduate programme also requires a cover letter and academic transcript (Graduate Brochure).

Silver Fern Farms application form online

There is no standalone application form — the entire process is digital. For graduate roles, the brochure specifies that after submitting your CV and cover letter, you’ll be asked to complete a short presentation to demonstrate your knowledge of the industry. Then you’ll receive an online assessment (cognitive, numerical, verbal, abstract reasoning) that takes about 30 minutes and must be completed within 5 days (Graduate Brochure).

What Silver Fern Farms jobs are available in New Zealand?

Silver Fern Farms hires across a range of roles, from entry-level processing to engineering and management. Job listings are posted on the careers portal and on job boards like Seek and Trade Me. As of early 2026, the company’s own job search page lists 41 open positions (Silver Fern Farms job search).

Silver Fern Farms jobs Gore

Gore, in Southland, is one of the company’s major processing sites. Jobs there include slaughtering, packing, and maintenance roles. The Trade Me advertiser page for Silver Fern Farms shows that the Gore site is actively hiring for the 2025/2026 season (Trade Me Jobs).

Silver Fern Farms jobs Christchurch

Christchurch is a hub for Silver Fern Farms’ corporate and logistics operations. Jobs there include administration, quality assurance, and distribution roles. Check the careers portal for current Christchurch listings (Silver Fern Farms job search).

Silver Fern Farms Takapau jobs

Takapau, in Hawke’s Bay, has a large processing plant. Roles there are primarily processing, but also include engineering and supervisory positions. The plant is one of the company’s oldest and largest, with regular seasonal hiring (Indeed New Zealand).

Silver Fern Farms jobs Dargaville

Dargaville, in Northland, has a smaller plant that processes local livestock. Jobs there are typically processing roles, often with flexible shift patterns. The Indeed listings show that some sites require applicants to be 18 years or older and pass pre-employment checks (Indeed New Zealand).

Steps to apply for Silver Fern Farms jobs

Follow these steps to submit a successful application, based on the company’s official process and job board listings.

1. Visit the Silver Fern Farms Careers page and create an account.
2. Browse available jobs using the job search tool. Filter by location or job type.
3. Prepare your CV and cover letter. For graduate positions, also have your academic transcript ready (Graduate Brochure).
4. Submit your online application. You’ll receive a confirmation email.
5. If shortlisted, complete the online assessment (for graduate roles) — this takes about 30 minutes and must be done within 5 days (Graduate Brochure).
6. Attend a virtual interview with the hiring team.
7. If successful, undergo pre-employment checks (drug screening, medical, criminal convictions) as required (Indeed New Zealand).

Clarity and confidence

Confirmed facts

• Silver Fern Farms operates a careers portal with a dedicated job search page (Silver Fern Farms Careers).
• Graduate programme requires an online application, CV, cover letter, transcript, presentation, and online assessment (Graduate Brochure).
• Processing roles pay at least $28.82 per hour after training (Trade Me Jobs).
• Some roles require pre-employment drug screening, medical checks, and proof of work eligibility (Indeed New Zealand).
• The company has over 5,000 employees across 14+ plants (Silver Fern Farms Careers).

What’s unclear

• Exact salary ranges for specific Silver Fern Farms roles are not publicly disclosed per position.
• How many overseas applicants successfully get hired each year is unknown.
• The exact number of graduate programme slots per year is not published.

What the experts say

Silver Fern Farms is committed to developing the next generation of leaders in the red meat industry. Our graduate programme is designed to give you real responsibility from day one.

— Dan Boulton (CEO, Silver Fern Farms), as quoted in the Graduate Brochure

Ireland’s Critical Skills Occupations List is updated annually to reflect the needs of the labour market. ICT, healthcare, and engineering remain the top priorities.

— Irish Department of Enterprise, official website

Summary

Silver Fern Farms offers a solid entry point into New Zealand’s agricultural sector, with structured career paths and competitive pay for processing roles. For overseas workers, the gap between New Zealand wages and high-paying Irish roles is substantial — but the cost of living in Ireland is also higher. For a New Zealander considering a move to Ireland, the choice is clear: target the Critical Skills Occupations List (ICT, healthcare, engineering) to maximize earning potential, or stay with Silver Fern Farms for a stable, local career with a strong employer.

Frequently asked questions