AddressSeeking the highest calibre of agribusiness manager with a salary package negotiated to match. This is an exciting opportunity for a proven leader to join this challenging but expanding business.
The Role
Founded in 1997, our client is an Australian Agri-investment management company that manages agricultural investments across Australia in dairy, sheep meat, dryland cropping and horticulture sectors.
We seek an elite dairy manager with strong leadership and agribusiness skills to pull together an aggregation of Dairy Farms near Kyabram Vic. The properties include a 180-hectare dairy, previously a share farming operation, currently milking 500 cows with plans to increase to 600 cows within the next year. Another 238-hectare property 3.5km away is undergoing upgrades and redevelopment to its dairy, allowing another 500 cows to be purchased and milked there. A third farm is owned near Tongala, which supports the two dairies with fodder and heifer grow-out.
These three operations have not been run collaboratively, nor have they been successful stand-alone businesses. We are searching for a progressive and highly experienced dairy manager to realise the owner's goal of turning this group of assets into a coordinated and profitable operation that milks up to 1200 cows.
Position
The Farm Manager will execute a turnaround plan and deliver operational outcomes within an agreed-upon budget.
The main objectives for this role are to
- Provide stability, training, leadership and direction for all staff on operational dairy.
- Gather and correctly store herd and farm data to be used to make informed decisions.
- Present all farms in a high-end professional way.
- Oversee the herd development, staffing requirements and capex of the “re-start” dairy.
- Manage all operations on all three farms.
This position offers autonomy in return for demonstrable outcomes and accountability. The Farm Manager reports to an Asset Manager who oversees four other dairy operations in Victoria.
Key Responsibilities
- All day-to-day operations, including staffing, animal health, feeding and pasture development.
- Maintaining quality records
- Manage all staff to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the farm within the agreed budget.
- Manage an AI and breeding program, conducting animal husbandry duties and ensuring herd health is maintained safely and humanely.
- Liaise and supervise all external contractors and consultants that come to the property.
- Manage and implement all feed budgeting requirements with assistance from consultants and the Asset Manager
- Develop and maintain property infrastructure within the operational budget.
- Maintain high OHS standards.
- Ensure that the property is always presented professionally.
The Ideal Candidate
As the successful applicant, you will have a growth mindset, be organised and driven, and look to grow and develop within the industry. You will have confidence in your skills based on your track record of delivering tangible and outstanding results.
You will ideally possess the following attributes:
- A comprehensive management knowledge in a dairy enterprise with a sound understanding of animal health and ruminant nutrition.
- Dairy management experience and technical knowledge of animal husbandry and irrigated pasture management
- Experience with PMR or TMR dairying operations
- Experience managing a team of staff and communicating with various stakeholders, including management, contractors, and external consultants.
- Experience managing a successful AI and breeding program.
- Experience operating and maintaining plant, machinery, and equipment.
- Computer literacy, particularly with farm management systems, and experience with MS Excel and Office suite skills; experience using AgriWebb system software is desirable.
The Offer
A large brick family homestead and an exceptional salary package to be negotiated with the successful applicant are provided. All properties are conveniently located near Kyabram, 30 minutes from Echuca, and 50 minutes from Shepparton, with adequate schools, sporting facilities, and shopping precincts available.
Want this job?
If you feel you’re suitable for this role, please submit an up-to-date resume along with the contact details of 3 references. Preference will be given to those who supply a cover letter addressing their suitability - that is, tell us what you love about the role and how you think you’re the right fit.
Additional information
- Full Operational Autonomy Dairy development & management role.
- Highly attractive salary package, opportunity for growth & performance rewards.
- Seeking an elite Dairy manager with strong leadership and agribusiness skills.
