- Impressively developed pastoral property.
- An opportunity to lead and take ownership and responsibility with high autonomy.
- Well-supported role, an attractive package including large homestead and bonus.
CC Cooper & Co is a progressive SA family-owned farming business that operates across six properties from Jamestown, SA, to outback New South Wales and the far eastern reaches of the Western Australian border. With up to 30 employees at any given time, the company has consistently grown since its establishment in 2005. The company's success is attributed to the individuals who help run their agricultural enterprise. They aim to employ individuals who are more capable than themselves and offer fully autonomous roles.
The Role
We are seeking a Station Manager for Madura Plains Station, located in Madura, WA, on the Nullarbor Plain, covering 711,740 Hectares. As the Station Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operations. You will work with six full-time staff members and seasonal workers, managing a 60,000-head self-replacing Merino Flock and a 1,500-head Boer-X goat pilot project.
The Station has excellent infrastructure, with extensive capital works undertaken in the last few years. It has 118 paddocks, 357 km of laneways, and a 1,400 km interconnected pipeline system that reticulates water from three bores. With 24-hour solar/battery bore pumping systems and automated generator backup to ensure reliable delivery of exceptional water quality and quantity.
The shearing shed and central yards complex include three bugle draft areas, including a five-way auto draft, predominantly used for drafting sheep back to paddocks using EID. Livestock is managed through shearing using a 10,000hd feedlot attached to the central yards. A modern 400km dog fence surrounds the property. Starlink internet is transmitted to most of its crucial water infrastructure points, allowing for excellent communication from mobile phones at strategic points across the property.
We seek applications from suitably experienced pastoral managers seeking a rewarding, long-term position with one of Australia’s leading family agribusinesses. You will have exceptional stock handling and management skills and a passion for achieving profitable and productive results while maintaining attention to detail. You should be driven, ambitious, and enthusiastic about implementing Ag tech on a large scale in the pastoral environment. Good communication and people skills are also essential.
Minimum Requirements
- A minimum of 10 years working within the industry, with at least five years served in a senior management role (such as operations manager, farm manager, etc.) in a large-scale livestock operation.
- Solid commercial understanding
- Ability to identify and manage stakeholder and business needs.
- Ability to lead a station team and provide constructive feedback and guidance to employees with positive results.
- Strong leadership capabilities and team player
Practical leadership and management skills are essential in this role, including a strong commitment to animal welfare and nutrition, adeptness in large-scale livestock logistics, feeding, marketing, and selling, strategic thinking, and an intricate understanding of livestock water systems. Building and nurturing relationships is at the core of your role, whether with contractors or fostering positive community connections that enhance the property's reputation.
Your responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Leading the overall management of a large-scale production system
- Leadership of Workplace, Health, and Safety
- Excellent planning, logistics, and time management
- Lead and maintain a cohesive team of staff, demonstrating hands-on leadership.
- Diligent future planning, budget, and cost control with full accountability.
- Work with the owners to develop the enterprise's goals, plans, and budgets.
- Overseeing implementation of enterprise goals, plans, and budgets.
- Work closely with external contractors, inputs, and livestock marketing.
- Thorough and transparent reporting of outcomes.
- Make strategic and operational decisions that ensure the best use of resources for a profitable and sustainable future.
The Offer
An attractive remuneration package, including a bonus structure, will be negotiated with the successful candidate. You and your family will also receive a beautiful five-bedroom home and a dual-cab Landcruiser ute for personal use (including fuel) and food. Telephone and Starlink are also provided, and your partner may be employed depending on their skill set.
Located 700 km east of Esperance and 700 km west of Ceduna on the Eyre Hwy, the Madura Pass Oasis roadhouse and bar is within the property boundary, while the Cocklebiddy Wedgetail Hotel is 16 km from the SW corner of the property. Mail and stores are delivered twice weekly, and excellent hunting and fishing opportunities are nearby. You can enjoy Mulloway off the beach to the south and even camels to the north!
Want this job?
If this position interests you, please apply with your current resume and the names and details of at least three references who can be contacted. Preference will be given to those who supply a cover letter indicating their suitability for the role.