Farm Manager Australia - Opportunity to Make a Difference

The Company

Enza Zaden is a global leader in vegetable seed production and plant breeding. We aim to achieve healthy, tasty, and locally adapted vegetable varieties with higher yield and quality. With more than 2500 passionate colleagues all over the world, we work together every day on the vegetables of tomorrow. 

Our Australian, Research and Development branch, is based in Narromine, NSW and we are currently seeking a full-time Farm Manager (R&D) to strengthen our team. 

The Role

As the Farm Manager (R&D), you will contribute to the execution of successful breeding and research programs resulting in innovative varieties by ensuring optimal crops and facilities for selection and seed production. Ideally you will have experience with vegetable production in general. 

Your effective communication and people management skills will help build sustainable relations between local and international teams and external partners. You are a hands-on Farm Manager(R&D) and know how to guide the implementation of innovation and take initiative. You will report to the Station Manager, Oceania. Thanks to your experience and analytical skills, you recognize opportunities and make an impact. You can work independently.

As the leader of the farm team, you set priorities and give clear directions to your team about doing the right things at the right time. Your focus on continuous improvement of processes, increases output and efficiency or reduce costs. 

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for the crop management of the breeding and screening trials at our R&D station in Narromine. You are a natural leader with agricultural management experience. You have scientific knowledge of agronomic inputs required for vegetable production. You manage the allocation and alignment of the resources of the R&D station, including: 

• planning, coordinating, and executing field and greenhouse activities based on both the breeders and sales teams’ inputs
• prioritizing, allocating and monitoring of crop labor requirements in line with the trial objectives
• ensuring that all employees work in a healthy and safe environment 
• taking care that the site complies with Enza Zaden’s internal, as well as local regulations.
• maintaining the facilities to the highest industry standard and giving input on future investments.
• contributing to the multi-year plan and annual budgeting for the R&D station.

About You

The team in Australia focusses on onion, pumpkin, lettuce, brassica, tomato and watermelon, but ideally you will have experience with vegetable production in general. 

Our ideal candidate will also:

• be a natural leader with previous management experience.
• have 6 to 8 years of experience in vegetable/seed production, preferably in the open field and in greenhouses.
• have scientific knowledge of agronomic inputs required for vegetable production.
• be a team player with excellent communication skills. 
• be innovative and continuously look for improvement of operations and processes. 
• hold a University level academic qualification with our preference for a Master's degree

Knowledge of sustainable, organic or regenerative farming practices will be beneficial.

Location and Renumeration

The role is based at our Narromine Research Station in NSW. Narromine is a regional country town located 35km east of Dubbo, a thriving regional centre with a population of 55,000. Dubbo offers all the amenities of a major city along with ready access to wide open spaces and all that offers, such as parks, reserves, fishing, water sports and more. A highly attractive remuneration package will be negotiated to attract the right person for this critical role.

Interested?
Please apply online with your CV and cover letter– don’t delay, apply today!

For a confidential discussion or to find out more about the role, please contact Lisa Cooper-Rhind, HR Business Partner, on [email protected]