Assistant Crop Maturity

About the role

This role contributes to the development of systems, data, and applications used by the Cane Harvest and Transport department to schedule harvest and maximise sugar production. The position involves conducting surveys and monitoring maturity curves in commercial production, analysing data from trials and mill operations, and leading reporting on ripener trials for internal and external partners. The role supports departmental budget development, expenditure monitoring, and cost control, while training and mentoring junior staff in sugarcane physiology and maturation management.

Key responsibilities

• Contribute to development of the system and data used by the Cane Harvest and Transport department to schedule harvest to maximise sugar production
• Contribute to the development of the ripener application program
• Contribute to departmental budget development, expenditure monitoring and cost control
• Conduct surveys to establish and monitor maturity curves in commercial production
• Monitor maturity and CCS levels in field trials
• Collate and analyse data from the mill to examine variety performance x agronomic management x environmental variables
• Conduct trials with ripeners to determine suitability and application requirements for use in Merauke
• Test new technologies and techniques with the potential to improve decisions and management to maximise sugar production
• Lead reporting on ripener trials for both internal and external partners
• Train and mentor junior staff in the physiology of sugarcane maturation and its management

About you

• Bachelor's degree in Science or Agriculture
• Masters degree in Science or Agriculture OR equivalent professional experience
• Knowledge of plant physiology relevant to the response of plants to application of growth regulators
• An understanding of experimental design and statistical analysis as they relate to replicated field trials and strip trial assessments
• Competence interrogating large datasets and testing for correlations and interactions
• Demonstrated strong technical writing skills
• Collaborative, with a proactive approach to problem solving