Farm manager - Grape & Citrus: Australia

The Farm Manager will oversee the entire production cycle for 300 acres of table grapes

and 300 acres of citrus, from vineyard/citrus orchard planning and cultural practices

through to harvest, post-harvest handling, and coordination with the packing/export

teams. The role requires a seasoned horticultural professional with proven expertise in

large-scale fruit production, people leadership, and commercial agribusiness

management.

• Crop Management

• Develop, implement, and monitor annual horticultural programs for both grapes and

citrus, aligned with varietal requirements and market windows.

• Oversee irrigation scheduling, nutrient programs, pest/disease control (including IPM),

pruning, canopy management, thinning, and harvest timing.

• Monitor crop health, growth, and yield forecasts to meet production and quality

targets.

• Staff & Contractor Management

• Recruit, train, roster, and supervise permanent, seasonal, and contract labour.

• Ensure productivity, adherence to QA protocols, and compliance with WHS

obligations.

• Lead workforce planning to meet seasonal peaks, including harvest and packing.

• Machinery & Infrastructure

• Manage maintenance schedules for tractors, harvest aids, sprayers, forklifts, irrigation

pumps, and other farm equipment.

• Ensure trellis systems, irrigation networks, and storage facilities are kept in optimal

condition.

• Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Maintain HACCP, GlobalG.A.P., HARPS, and Fair Farms compliance across all

operations.

• Ensure full traceability from paddock to packhouse, including harvest and post-

harvest handling.

• Liaise with export authorities (DAFF) for inspection readiness.

• Budgeting & Reporting

• Prepare and manage annual farm budgets for inputs, labour, and capital works.

• Track expenditure, report variances, and provide production forecasts to the Board.

• Recommend improvements in operational efficiency and profitability.

• Work closely with the packing shed to align harvest volumes and quality standards.

Essential

• Minimum 5 years of proven management experience in large-scale commercial fruit

production (preferably table grapes and citrus).

• Strong agronomic knowledge relevant to viticulture and citrus production.

• Demonstrated leadership and workforce management capabilities, including

supervision of large seasonal teams.

• Practical experience with modern horticultural machinery and irrigation systems.

• High-level organisational and time management skills.

• Understanding of HACCP, GlobalG.A.P., HARPS, and other industry QA systems.

• Current driver’s licence; ChemCert accreditation; Forklift (LF) licence.

Desirable

• Tertiary qualification in Agriculture, Horticulture, or Viticulture.

• Heavy Rigid (HR) truck licence.

• Experience in export protocols and post-harvest QA.

• Mechanical aptitude for equipment maintenance.

Salary and benefits will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

Please send your CV, together with a copy of your passport, to ***email_hidden***.