Beekeeper’s Assistants Needed At Silver Fern Honey Farm Ltd. Canada

Job Description

We are looking to hire skilled Beekeeper’s Assistants to raise and care for our honeybee colonies. As a Beekeeper, you will be responsible for building and maintaining beehives, inducting wild swarms, collecting honey and royal jelly, removing hive parasites, and maintaining the health of the hive. You may also be required to sterilize or destroy hives and cultivate queen bees for commercial purposes.

To ensure success as Beekeeper’s Assistants, you should have a passion for beekeeping, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and a desire to work outdoors. Ultimately, a top-class Beekeeper maintains healthy hives and produces high-quality honeybee products.

The following experience is an asset but not required:  honey extracting, splitting of hives, making nucs, assist the beekeeper with wintering beehives, general knowledge of beehives. Must have a driver’s license.  Must be responsible and be able to work unsupervised.  Employer willing to train.

Job Details:

Responsibilities:

• Assembling beehives to desired specifications.
• Inserting honeycombs and inducting wild swarms into prepared hives.
• Forcing bees from a hive using a smoke pot to inspect the hive and retrieve honey.
• Collecting honey and royal jelly.
• Destroying excess queen bee cells to prevent the division of a colony.
• Scraping out hive parasites and removing vermin.
• Destroying diseased bee colonies.
• Cultivating queen bees for sale to other Apiarists.
• Arranging the sale of honey to local buyers.
• Splitting colonies.

Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Degree in Zoology or Animal Science preferred.
• Proven work experience as a Beekeeper.
• Excellent knowledge of plant and animal biology.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Basic woodworking skills.
• Ability to lift heavy objects.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Ability to work unsupervised.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

Transportation/Travel Information
– Drive manual transmission vehicle

Credentials (certificates, licences, memberships, courses, etc.)
– Not applicable

Specific Skills
– Apiary Work

Type of Equipment
– Farm truck

Type of Farm Operations
– Beekeeping

Work Location Information
– Staff accommodation provided
– Rural community

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities
– Fast-paced environment
– Repetitive tasks
– Handling heavy loads
– Physically demanding
– Standing for extended periods
– Bending, crouching, kneeling

Type of Automated Systems Experience
– Automated honey extractor

Work Site Environment
– Hot