Senior Farm Manager

The role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Farm Manager to take ownership of daily farm operations across our Bowen area. Reporting to the Farm Operations Manager, this is a senior leadership position that sits at the top of our farm management structure — responsible for running our farming operation to an exceptional standard whilst freeing the Farm Operations Manager to focus on commercial performance and profit improvement.

As first amongst equals within the farm management peer group, the Senior Farm Manager provides cross-farm operational leadership, acts as the primary deputy to the Farm Operations Manager, and serves as the first point of escalation for operational matters. The role does not carry line management authority over peer Farm Managers but leads by influence, experience and example.

This is an opportunity for a commercially astute, operationally strong farm leader to step into a role with real scope and visibility — and to make a lasting impact on how we farm.

Key responsibilities

Farm operations leadership

• Take full management accountability for a designated farming area, including budget, people and crop performance.
• Manage day-to-day execution of the farm operational plan to consistently deliver quality, yield and safety targets.
• Align farm operations to the farmhouse strategy and operational focus areas.
• Foster a culture where safety, quality, productivity and continual improvement are embedded in everyday activity.

Senior operational leadership

• Act as primary deputy to the Farm Operations Manager, assuming delegated authority in their absence.
• Serve as the first point of escalation for peer Farm Managers on operational, safety, quality and people matters.
• Coordinate cross-farm activities including labour allocation, equipment sharing and harvest scheduling as required.
• Lead cross-farm pre-season planning and post-season reviews as directed.
• Monitor operational standards and GAP compliance across the farming area and escalate concerns appropriately.

People and safety

• Manage all farm workers, labour hire personnel and contractors within area of responsibility.
• Ensure adequate labour planning to deliver SOP volume expectations within fatigue management guidelines.
• Own training records and matrices; identify capability gaps and coordinate induction programmes.
• Develop team members to think and act commercially; build succession plans.
• Ensure all HR policies, WH&S obligations and legislative requirements are met.

Quality and cost

• Deliver all crop activities — ground preparation, nutrition, planting, irrigation, pest and disease management, and harvest — within quality specifications.
• Own the farm budget including capital plan input and P&L accountability at farm level.
• Ensure compliance with GAP, GMP, HACCP and all quality procedures and policies.
• Lead CAR investigation and close-out for the farming area; escalate cross-farm compliance concerns.
• Drive a proactive, solution-focused approach to continuous improvement.

About you

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Agriculture, Business Administration, Food Science, Quality Assurance or Supply Chain Management — desirable but not essential where strong experience is demonstrated.
• Chemical accreditation (AHCCHM303 / AHCCHM304).
• Current driver's licence relevant to machinery operated.

Experience

• Minimum 5–7 years' experience in large-scale vegetable row cropping or equivalent; 10+ years preferred.
• Demonstrated farm management or senior supervisory experience, ideally across multiple teams or farming areas.
• Experience deputising for, or coordinating alongside, a more senior operations manager.
• Corporate or large-scale horticultural farming experience advantageous.
• Application of lean principles in a farming environment.
• Demonstrated financial accountability including budget and cost management.
• Chemical, spraying and mechanical aptitude.
• Strong commitment to OHS compliance.

Skills and attributes

• Strong operational leadership — able to lead by influence as well as by authority.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to make decisions that balance quality, cost and sustainability.
• Proven ability to develop and motivate teams and deliver results under pressure.
• High standard of record keeping, reporting and communication.
• Willingness to work extended hours as operational demands require.

Remuneration

Salary will be negotiated with the successful applicant and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Mulgowie offers a competitive remuneration package reflective of the seniority and scope of this position.