_{16th June, 2025}

Who are we?
  
ofi is a leading global integrated supply chain manager, processor and grower of agricultural products and food ingredients, supplying various products across 16 platforms to over 13,000 customers worldwide.  With a direct presence in more than 65 countries with sourcing and processing in most major producing countries, ofi has built a global leadership position in many of its businesses. In Australia & New Zealand, we operate in multiple products including cocoa, dairy, and almonds.

The Opportunity:

The Agricultural Operations Team Leader role supports the Orchard Manager on our Wandown Orchard (located between Robinvale and Swan Hill Victoria).
 
They will coordinate, lead and supervise day to day orchard operations and activities and serve as the interim Orchard Manager in his / her absence. In this role you will be instrumental in developing a productive, engaging and safe workplace for all employees on farm.

Reporting to the Orchard Manager you will be responsible for:

Orchard Growth, Health & Hygiene Support and promote maximum yield from trees through:

• Continuously improving all Orchard growth and hygiene identification processes to drive productivity and efficiency to optimize tree health
• Review existing orchards and assess the conditions of the crops and soil to determine areas for further development and/or contingency planning
• Review the impacts of existing pests, weeds and insects and actively consult with Orchard Managers on current management programs whilst exploring and experimenting with alternative control methods
• Actively work with Orchard Managers and broader orchard teams to devise and implement new planting, fertilizing, irrigating and harvesting strategies aimed at achieving maximum efficiency and output
• Actively contribute to and support the development of best practice management plans
• Ensuring Orchard and Irrigation Technicians understand, agrees with, or accepts the context and purpose of weed management

Planning & Scheduling to achieve maintain orchard efficiency by:

• Managing and planning resource and equipment usage through digital platforms, i.e. Fieldin and MEX.
• Ensure all data and document management is accurately captured, maintained, and reported for region.
• Monitor and ensure all irrigation schedules and orchard activities are adhered to and reported on to Managers.
• Continuously monitoring and improving all orchard management and financial systems to ensure accurate information is recorded
• Share knowledge and experience of orchard operations with others to add value to strategic planning
• Support the training and technical development of the orchard team in relation to new technology, techniques and processes

Leadership & Safety Actively contribute to achieving the overall goals of the company by:

• Building a positive work and safety culture within the Orchard team, in conjunction with the ofi Safety Coordinator through training.
• Ensuring all safety incidents/ near misses are recorded and investigated effectively in accordance with SMS

Stakeholder Management Represent ofi’ s shared values through:

• Dealing with customers, community members and contractors, ensuring cost effective orchard performance and timely delivery
• Develop and maintain effective relationships across value chain ensuring all H&S Processing Plant, Sales and Distribution requirements are met

Financial

• Ensure all operational costs are managed through:
• Developing forecasts of activities and Management Plan to support highly accurate budgeting
• Manage orchard costs to budget

Key Skills

• Strong understanding of horticulture from a technical and operational perspective.
• Exposure to farm operations and skilling teams.
• Skills and ability to monitor and manage Orchard teams efficiently.
• Strong computer and financial literacy, contingency planning, irrigation best practice management and in-depth knowledge of threatening pests and diseases.
• The ability to coach, train and educate staff on yielding results with a solid focus on understanding the orchard calendar.
• Must have knowledge of Horticulture and Reporting Daily in corporate environment.

This is a ‘hands on’ role for someone with an output focus, who is able to think on their feet, troubleshoot and lead the team.

To be considered for an interview you will have small team management experience, an understanding of agricultural operations and reasonable computer skills. You will also have the energy and drive to persevere through long seasons, reasonable business and financial acumen (or at least the willingness to learn) and excellent interpersonal and team leadership skills to drive a high-performance team culture.

You must be confident of passing our pre-employment medical / drug screen as we have a zero-tolerance policy to drugs.

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