Beekeeper job description

About the job

We are looking for a beekeeper to look after the hives, feed them, protect them from disease and move them to good forage, and to harvest and prepare high-quality honey.

Duties and responsibilities

• Inspect hives regularly and check colony strength, the queen and the brood
• Feed the bees when nectar is scarce and provide water near the apiary
• Control bee diseases and pests such as varroa mites and hornets
• Move hives to forage when plants such as sidr, thyme and eucalyptus are in flower
• Split colonies, raise queens and prevent swarming
• Harvest, extract, filter and bottle honey to hygiene and food safety rules
• Maintain hives, frames and apiary tools and prepare wax foundation
• Keep records of hives, production and treatments used

Working conditions

• Risk of stings; protective clothing is worn at all times
• Travel to distant forage areas, sometimes staying overnight near the hives
• Outdoor work in the heat

Requirements

• No formal qualification required
• 3 to 6 years of experience in beekeeping and honey production

The years of experience follow the level you choose when posting.

Skills

• Beekeeping
• Hive inspection
• Queen rearing
• Bee disease control
• Honey extraction and bottling
• Migratory beekeeping
• Nectar plants
• Food safety

Preferred

• A beekeeping course
• Experience producing other bee products such as pollen and propolis
• A driving licence for moving hives