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Design Specialist/Human Centred Designer
Department: Farm Solution & Engagement
Location: Canterbury/North Otago
Posted: July 29, 2026
Design Specialist role
Fixed term 12 months secondment cover
Preferred locations for this role would be Lincoln or Hamilton, however location is flexible.
Do you want to work for an industry good body that at the forefront of the nation’s most challenging and important issues? Do you want to work in a collegial, supportive, and flexible work environment? Do you want to work with farmers and know you are making a difference?
DairyNZ is the industry good organisation representing New Zealand’s dairy farmers. Our purpose is to deliver a better future for farmers in line with our sector strategy Dairy Tomorrow.
The Role:
We are looking for a talented designer to join our team.
This exciting opportunity is for an individual who is passionate about developing solutions for the sector’s biggest challenges. The Design Specialist team develop and deliver fit for purpose sustainable solutions that have meaningful impact on farm and across the sector. The team uses Human Centred Design thinking to understand the right problem and use the right approach to tackle real need.
Our key focus areas include driving on-farm change by innovating and updating our products to stay relevant and timely for farmers throughout the season, while supporting research and science projects through design thinking approaches.
Key Responsibilities
The primary focus of this role is to develop solutions by:
- Understanding and articulating user needs
- Understanding the current state to define the right problem.
- Develop, test and deliver fit for purpose solutions for farmers that are useable and valuable.
- Build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships with our farmers and partners.
- Be an active part of the team in line with our strong values focused working environment.
About You:
It is essential that you have a passion for food and fibre sectors and designing and delivering great solutions to enable a better future for farmers. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, the ability to work in a team and be able to contextualise information for end users. Experience in project management or delivering/facilitating groups would be advantageous. Farming experience and a relevant tertiary qualification is desirable but not essential.
Benefits:
- Access to a range of staff benefits - flexible working, additional leave days and more
- Work with some of the best and brightest in the industry
- The opportunity to deliver meaningful on-farm change
- DairyNZ operates nation-wide and is focussed on career progression
- Work for an employer who is proactive about health and well-being, including flexible work arrangements
Take advantage of all this opportunity presents, you’ve got a big part to play in our success, just as we have in yours! If you are interested in this role but you lack some experience we still want to hear from you.
You must be eligible to work in NZ to apply for this role.
Check out the full position description here to read more detail. Applications close Sunday 20 August at 11:55pm
For further information and to apply, please visit our website: www.dairynz.co.nz/jobshttp://www.dairynz.co.nz/jobs
