Vineyard and Nursery Operator

About the Employer

Chalmers are an established name in Australian viticulture with a reputation for excellence, innovation and diversity.  The family were named 2014 Viticulturists of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine.  Their Merbein, Victoria vineyard was established in 2010 as a source block and commercial vineyard.  The nursery source blocks at Merbein hold all the clones and varieties imported by Chalmers while the commercial vineyard supplies premium wine grapes from over 30 different grape varieties to more than 50 different winemakers across the eastern states from tiny garage producers to national corporate companies.  The Merbein nursery was opened in 2016 as a family run operation propagating predominantly from varieties in the Chalmers collection
 

About the Role

The Vineyard and Nursery Operator position is responsible for carrying out various daily and seasonal operations across our vineyards and Nursery.

Responsible To: Managers and Directors

Skills and Knowledge Required

• Current Driver’s license

• Forklift licence

• Chemical users certificate

• Operate self-propelled machine harvester

• Operate machine pruner

• Operate double row sprayer

• Operate remote irrigation software

• Sound knowledge of chemical use for the control of pest, weeds and disease

• Intermediate mechanical knowledge / ability to perform small repairs and general maintenance

• Knowledge of irrigation systems and repairs

• Strong attention to detail

• Take ownership of work with pride

• Excellent verbal and written communication

• Problem solving skills

• Ability to plan ahead

• Contribute positive value to the team and to its processes

• Resourceful and confident with applying skills and knowledge

• Show initiative and drive

Responsibilities and Duties – Vineyard

• Assist with irrigation, irrigation system repairs and maintenance

• Tractor operation, including spraying, tilling soil, pruning and machine harvesting

• Assisting with vineyard work, including shoot and or crop thinning, hand picking and wire lifting

• General tasks as directed by Manager

Responsibilities and Duties – Nursery

• Tractor operation, including spraying, trimming and tilling soil

• Set up, install and operate nursery seasonal site irrigation requirements.

• Site preparation and planting of vines

• Accurate record keeping of all nursery documentation for traceability and quality control.

• Lifting, processing, counting and storing of vines from field nursery

• General tasks as directed by Manager

Responsibilities and Duties – General

• Maintain detailed, written records of all duties performed on weekly timesheet.

• Work in conjunction with area managers to plan work schedules.

• Operate and maintain all equipment with responsibility and care, keeping them clean and in good working order.

• Replace all tools and equipment to their rightful places after use.

• Carry out additional tasks as directed by Manager.

• Supervise small teams.

WHS and your responsibilities

• Report any injuries incidents, any near misses to Manager.

• Report any faulty equipment to manager immediately.

• Wear appropriate PPE as directed by Manager.

• Do not operate any plant or equipment you are not licensed or authorised to use.

• Do not use any plant or equipment which has been tagged out.