Orchard Manager

Montague has been growing quality fruit since 1948.  We grow, develop, and distribute some of the juiciest and most flavoursome apples, stone fruit, grapes, and citrus throughout Australia. We have a rare opportunity for an experienced Orchard Manager to join our Orchard team.

The Position 

Reporting to the General Manager – Orchards, this unique opportunity will suit an experienced Orchard Manager with a focus on both the technical aspects of growing high quality produce and building a collaborative and successful team. Our Narre Warren North orchard has over 50 ha planted. You will be responsible for operating and maintaining the property in a safe and profitable manner whilst producing high quality fruit with efficiency and sustainability front of mind. 

Responsibilities

• To manage the orchard in a safe, healthy, and efficient manner
• To manage the orchard to ensure maximum orchard yield, pack out, fruit size, tree growth and crop load while minimising orchard costs and capital expense within agreed budget levels
• Manage and lead a team of skilled crew leaders ensuring that there is continued development of a training/coaching system to support continuous improvement and new business and industry initiatives 
• Oversee the day to day activities, such as pruning, tree training, thinning, irrigation/fertigation, and harvesting as executed by orchard staff and Seasonal workers.
• Manage the full fleet of machinery, vehicles and equipment, all ground operations across the property and staff
• Compliance with quality assurance systems implementation and maintenance (e.g. Global GAP and ICA arrangements)
• Recruitment, selection, and induction of staff (casual, labour hire and permanent) per company policies
• Chemical handling, storage, application, and disposal
• Managing the fertiliser, irrigation, preventative maintenance, and orchard development

Essential Skills & Experience

• Management of direct and indirect employees including Seasonal Workers
• Management of resources such as machinery, vehicles, equipment, and crops
• Experience working in and managing an Orchard
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent communication and time management skills
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills
• Ability to lead, motivate and inspire your team
• Forklift Licence

 What’s on offer?

• Competitive salary
• Close to home in Narre Warren North
• Company vehicle, mobile phone & laptop
• Access to onsite Gym, EAP & Mental Health First Aid

Apply Now

If you are looking for your next challenge and enjoy being at one with nature, this is the opportunity for you! Apply now by sending your resume to ***************@montague.com.au.

At Montague we pride ourselves on internal promotion opportunities, encouraging employee wellbeing and creating a work environment that is supportive, dynamic and fun.

Please note the above position is open only to applicants with unrestricted Australian working rights.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Our application process includes interviews, working rights checks and reference checks.