Beekeeper Supervisor

Job duties

Original text, as filed with the Department of Labor.

Directly supervises and coordinates the following activities:
• Queen catching process
• Health and production of mating nucleus yards
• Management of big colonies
• Management of treatment schedule for honeybee pests
• Management of breeders and cell builders
• Ensures sufficient double-up colonies are healthy and vigorous to produce queen bees
• Maintain quality of queen bank for optimum queen longevity
• Instructs workers on various tasks, including apiculture best practices, harvesting, and equipment operation ensuring they are completed in a timely and efficient manner while maintaining a positive work environment for all employees
• Manage weekly packing of queens for sale and shipment.
• Maintains records of production, inventory, and personnel actions
• Identifies and resolves issues related to work methods, safety, and compliance
Other Duties:
• Arrive at work ready to work. Start and end time may vary depending on the needs of the production schedule.
• Must have appropriate work clothes (long sleeves, light colored clothes and long pants) and hive tool holder on belt when clocking in to work.
• Employee will have an assigned smoker which should be kept in good working condition and corked once work is completed for the day.
• Miscellaneous duties including but not limited to washing and detailing trucks and vehicles and general maintenance duties like sweeping and trash removal.
• Hawaiian Queen operates in an “all hands on deck” environment where you will sometimes be asked to do your part to “get the job done”.
Required Qualifications:
Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in a commercial beekeeping company. Must include at least one (1) year of supervisory experience.
• Research beekeeping management practices
• Research genetic expression or characteristics of bee behavior
• Prepare scientific reports/presentations
• Develop beekeeping methods
• Identify internal and external anatomy of all castes
• Understand function of various structures of all castes
• Understand in-depth aspects of honey bee queen biology
• Understand and perform multiple queen rearing methods
• Understand major hive pest biology
• Implement various pest management strategies
• Understand and apply various chemical treatments for hive pests
• Understand and implement non-chemical methods of pest control, adopt Hawaiian Queen system of controls
• Identify plants that are pollinator supportive
• Be able to extract honey from a hive and understand honey handling
• Understand honey properties and varietals
• Process wax from a honey bee hive
• Understand various other hive products and their use
• Graft bee larvae for queen rearing using specialized grafting tools
• Valid driver license, clear driving record.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Ability to multi-task and successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Basic computer skills, including MS Word and Excel, internet searching and email communication.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience operating forklifts and other industrial equipment such as weed whackers.
• Experience driving large trucks with cargo and/or trailer.
• Ability to drive a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Working Conditions:
All weather conditions inside and outside, sun or rain, heat and humidity. Employee will be exposed to bee stings.
Work Hours:
Work hours are generally 6:30-3:00pm Monday through Friday. Some Saturdays, Sundays and holidays will be required. Hours of work will vary based on seasonal demands and an earlier start time or later end time may be required. Owners will communicate these earlier or later times to employee the day before.
Equipment Use:
Basic beekeeping equipment, including hive tools and smokers. Advanced beekeeping equipment used in grafting for queen bees.
Mental and Physical Demands:
Heavy lifting of 75 pounds unassisted

Requirements

Directly supervises and coordinates the following activities:
Queen catching process
Health and production of mating nucleus yards
Management of big colonies
Management of treatment schedule for honeybee pests
Management of breeders and cell builders
Ensures sufficient double-up colonies are healthy and vigorous to produce queen bees
Maintain quality of queen bank for optimum queen longevity
Instructs workers on various tasks, including apiculture best practices, harvesting, and equipment operation ensuring they are completed in a timely and efficient manner while maintaining a positive work environment for all employees
Manage weekly packing of queens for sale and shipment.
Maintains records of production, inventory, and personnel actions
Identifies and resolves issues related to work methods, safety, and compliance

Benefits and conditions