Assistant Category Manager - Fresh Produce

Agri Talent Pty; Townsville City; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Agri Talent Pty is supporting an established Australian agribusiness to recruit an Assistant Category Manager - Fresh Produce in Townsville, Queensland. This is a hands-on development role designed to build your commercial and product knowledge before progressing toward greater category responsibility.

Your duties include supporting sales and profitability, forecasting harvest timing with farm teams, coordinating picking and packing, matching fruit to customer demand, planning promotions and

Qualifications

• Experience in agriculture, horticulture, fresh produce or FMCG is preferred.
• Strong commercial mindset and ability to learn quickly.
• Good communication and relationship-building across the supply chain.
• Comfort with changing priorities in a seasonal environment.

Responsibilities

• Support sales, profitability and performance of the table grape category.
• Forecast crop volumes and harvest timing with farm teams.
• Coordinate picking, packing and delivery to meet customer demand.
• Plan customer promotions, pricing and supply programs across markets.
• Build relationships with growers, suppliers and customers.
• Analyse sales, quality and market data to guide decisions.
• Monitor product quality and resolve supply or customer issues.

Skills

Communication

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Willingness to learn

Resilience

Adaptability

Team collaboration

Job description

Your Employer Our client is an established Australian fresh produce business with more than 25 years of experience across production, packing, supply and commercial operations. They have a significant presence in Australian horticulture, supplying premium fresh produce to major domestic retailers and export markets. Their Western Australian operations include extensive table grape production, with the business involved across the supply chain from growing and harvest through packing, quality, logistics and customer supply.

They are particularly well regarded for their approach to grape genetics, varietal selection and growing practices. Based at the company's Meelon operation, you'll join a close-knit commercial team working directly alongside the farms and product. This is a genuine development opportunity for someone who wants to build deep fresh produce knowledge and progress toward managing a category.

The Role Reporting to the WA commercial lead, you will support the commercial management of the table grape category from vineyard forecasting through harvest, packing, quality, logistics and customer supply. This is a hands-on development role designed to build your commercial and product knowledge before progressing toward greater category responsibility. Your duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Support sales, profitability and overall performance of the table grape category.
• Forecast crop volumes and harvest timing with farm teams and coordinate picking and packing requirements.
• Match available fruit with customer demand, considering quality, storage life, market conditions and supply commitments.
• Plan and coordinate customer promotions, pricing and supply programs across major retail and other markets.
• Build effective relationships with growers, suppliers, farm teams, pack sheds, quality staff, logistics providers and customers.
• Analyse sales, quality, market and supply information to identify trends, manage risk and support commercial decisions.
• Monitor product quality and resolve supply or customer issues in conjunction with internal teams and suppliers.

About You

You may already have experience in agriculture, horticulture, fresh produce or FMCG, or you may bring strong commercial capability from another fast-moving environment. More important is your willingness to learn, sound judgement, reliability and ability to remain effective when priorities change at short notice. To be successful in the role, you will have the following:

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with people across the full supply chain.
• Strong problem-solving skills with confidence re-prioritising work as conditions change.
• Excellent attention to detail and an understanding of how missed handovers can affect downstream operations.
• A genuine interest in learning the table grape and fresh produce industry and developing with the business over the longer term.
• Resilience, maturity and reliability in a seasonal environment where weather, quality, supply and customer needs can change quickly.
• Flexibility to work early starts, some weekends and remain contactable as your category responsibilities increase.
• Experience in agriculture, horticulture, FMCG, produce sales or agronomy will be well regarded but is not essential for the right person.

This is not a desk-bound commercial role. You'll gain exposure to the complete journey of fresh produce—from vines and pack sheds through quality, logistics, promotions, pricing and major customers. The Meelon location also places you in a rural area south of Perth, close to grape-growing operations and the day-to-day activity of the product you will manage. The position is deliberately structured as a development opportunity. The business anticipates a one-to-two-year learning period followed by increasing autonomy and a genuine pathway toward Category Manager responsibilities. The working environment is high-trust and practical, with flexibility around quieter periods and personal appointments balanced against the seasonal demands of fresh produce.

Choose Agri Talent

Agri Talent provides permanent recruitment and executive search services exclusively for Australian agribusiness. Our extensive digital network connects quality candidates to diverse and exciting roles with respected clients across Australia's agriculture sector.

Key Job Info

Assistant Category Manager - Fresh Produce • Townsville, QLD, AU