Your Next Employer Our client manages three ~200ha avocado orchards around Busselton, WA. Well-funded and performance-focused, the business combines disciplined financial oversight, structured reporting rhythms and long-term orchard health planning. On this orchard, the focus is a staged redevelopment program including drainage redesign, infrastructure upgrades and progressive replanting to reset productivity and improve long-term returns Clear budgets, defined milestones and disciplined execution underpin the plan. You’ll step in with the mandate to set standards, build leadership capability and influence how this orchard is rebuilt and run. The broader focus is lifting safety performance, compliance discipline and operational planning. The brief is clear: build capability, run a safe and commercially accountable orchard, and deliver redevelopment milestones on time and on budget. The Role Reporting to the General Manager and sitting on the Leadership Team, you’ll hold operational and financial accountability for the orchard, supported by the General Manager and a team of up to 8 full-time staff. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role combining daily operations with ownership of capital works, infrastructure redesign, and long-term productivity improvement. Redevelopment plan: Removals : ~20ha completed last year; ~93ha in 2026; potential further removals at end-2026/early 2027 subject to yield and market conditions. Replanting : Initial ~20ha planned for Oct–Nov 2026, progressing through to early production. Infrastructure : Drainage redesign, new dams, new mains and layout changes. Delivery : Align variety and rootstock selections with Technical recommendations; manage contractors to scope, safety, budget, quality and timeline with transparent reporting. Success looks like visible safety leadership, disciplined planning and reporting, capability uplift across the team, and delivery of clear redevelopment milestones. Key Responsibilities Lead Operations & Planning: Develop and execute the Orchard Management Plan; align labour, machinery and materials to seasonal demands; manage supplier, contractor and regulatory relationships while maintaining production continuity during redevelopment phases. People & Capability: Set clear expectations; coach and develop team leaders; manage employees, labour hire and seasonal crews; support recruitment, onboarding and structured development pathways to build bench strength. Safety, Systems & Compliance: Provide visible safety leadership; ensure compliance with group systems; maintain audit-ready records; meet defined safety, quality and environmental standards. Commercial Management : Build and manage opex and capex budgets with the GM; identify cost efficiencies; run structured monthly performance reviews supported by dashboards; deliver KPIs across safety, productivity and redevelopment milestones. Orchard Programs: Drive yield and fruit quality outcomes; improve pack-out performance, grade optimisation and yield per hectare; lead canopy and pruning strategies to enhance pickability and consistency. Irrigation Performance: Lift system reliability during transition (with support from the technical team); address capacity constraints and iron/filtration issues, and help coordinate redesign while maintaining production. Contractor Management & Stewardship: Apply disciplined contractor controls; manage scopes clearly; protect orchard assets; manage neighbour impacts; maintain confidentiality and accurate records. What You Bring Proven orchard management experience. Avocado experience is advantageous but not essential; strong capability in tree cropping and redevelopment environments is highly regarded. Demonstrated experience managing capital projects or staged redevelopment programs. Strong people leadership: communicates clearly, sets high standards and builds accountable teams. Commercial mindset: experienced in budget oversight, cost control and performance tracking. Confident managing contractors and suppliers at scale. Open-minded and pragmatic: willing to test, adapt and document learnings where required. What You’ll Gain Package : $125k - $135k Super 10% bonus company vehicle (fuel) House : Newly built on-farm housing (4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, study/5th bedroom; power included). Support : Strong internal technical, HR & finance support Impact : Lead a major redevelopment with clear ownership of outcomes; reset standards, systems, and culture. Workload : Target ~38 hours per week outside peaks; summer weekend contactability at times due to irrigation risk. How to Step Forward For more information or a confidential chat, please contact Dai Yoshida , Talent Manager, on 0413 000 844, or Nick Marchant , Director, on 0466 333 066 . Who Are March March offers permanent recruitment and workforce planning services tailored exclusively to Australian agribusinesses. We're about connecting top talent with great businesses - plain and simple.
