Horticulture Section Manager

About us

At Rombola Family Farms, we’re not just about farming – we’re about crafting a sustainable future. Based in the heart of Australia's agricultural landscape, in Griffith, Rombola Family Farms is a forward-thinking business committed to producing the highest quality fruits, vegetables, and produce for local markets. Our intensive irrigated horticultural production located in Griffith (NSW), Bundaberg (QLD), Douglas-Daly (NT) and Mataranka (NT). Our passion for innovation and sustainability drives everything we do, from our cutting-edge farming techniques to our unwavering dedication to community and the environment.

Rombola Family Farms is seeking for a Horticulture Section Manager for its operations in Griffith in NSW, Bundaberg in QLD, Mataranka and Douglas-Daly in the NT. The Horticulture Section Manager will be hands-on and be a strategic thinker with demonstrated people leadership skills and operational management experience. The Horticulture Section Manager is a key member of the Rombola Family Farms production team. This role will oversee operations to ensure production efficiency, quality, services, and cost-effective management of resources (including plant, equipment, and human resources). The role will also manage overall day-to-day operations and supervision of direct reports to meet the needs of the production schedule.

Key accountabilities include:

• Plan and coordinate the production of all our crops, such as, watermelon and melons according to the organisational plan for the specific season.
• Estimating & budgeting costs for monthly & quarterly & yearly farm operations.
• Manage all new varietal trials and full supply chain analysis for presentation to the Managing Director including selecting and planting seeds, seedlings, and grafting new varieties.
• Monitor the agreed production schedule to ensure all tasks are completed in line with agreed timing for all plantings.
• Liaise with the production team to alter irrigation, nutrition, weed, pest & disease control, and sun screening in a planting as required.
• Monitor crop health and fruit maturity to forecast fruit volume & quality by week.
• Contributes constructively and proactively to production team discussion about the design of production schedules with market timing, volume, quality attributes and internal capacity constraints in mind.
• Maintaining and evaluating records of farming activities, monitoring market activity, and planning crop preparation and production to meet contract requirements and market demand.
• Maintain farm buildings, fences, equipment and water supply systems.
• Work with Human Resources staff to recruit, interview, select, hire, and employ an appropriate number of employees.
• Provide oversight and direction to employees in accordance with the organisation's policies and procedures.

To be successful in the role you will possess the following:

• Qualification in a relevant discipline, is preferred but not required.
• Proven ability and minimum 5 years’ experience in the farming field and a track record of success in achieving production targets.
• Understanding of commercial realities including exposure to and participation in financial, commercial, and planning decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to develop work plans and achieve the goals of these work plans.
• Good with numbers: analysing cost and want to have input into Capital Expenditure and farm expansion plans.
• A high level of energy with a positive can-do attitude, with the ability to work in a high-pressure environment.
• Competence and experience in the operation of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Outlook.
• Practical understanding of the use and application of farm-related software programs and high level of computer literacy.
• Relationship management skills with the ability to build relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional people management and negotiation skills.
• Flexibility in hours worked to achieve operational targets.
• Sound working knowledge of WH&S requirements.
• A current driver’s licence.

In return we offer you:

• An attractive remuneration package based upon relevant qualifications and experience, salary range between $75,000 - $90,000.
• Learning and growth opportunities within a fast paced and growing business.
• A passionate and energetic team culture.

More information:

For more information, please email [email protected] To learn more about working with us, we encourage you to visit our website http://www.rombolafamilyfarms.com.au

Company Overview

The Rombola Family has been farming for over fifty years, since they arrived in Australia in the 1950s from Calabria, Italy. They were part of a large group of migrants who helped transform Australia’s Riverina and surrounding areas into a dynamic, enterprising agricultural region. Today, the Rombola Family Farm sits on over 4,000 hectares of premium horticultural land in New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The company employs more than 300 seasonal contract employees and supplies produce to all capital cities across Australia. The Rombola Family Farms brand is synonymous with quality, and our commitment to excellence has helped us become one of the leading suppliers of fresh produce in Australia under two flagship brands: Rombola Family Farms and Green Gro. Both brands are dedicated to providing high-quality, fresh produce to Australian consumers.