Banana Consultant

Premier Fresh Australia Pty Ltd; Cassowary Coast Regional; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Premier Fresh Australia seeks an experienced Banana Consultant to provide strategic, technical and commercial leadership across our banana farming operations at Darwin Fruit Farms. You will assess the current state, shape a clear improvement strategy and lead its practical implementation in the farming operation.

You will work with senior leadership to drive yield, quality and profitability, while challenging practices and translating recommendations into sustainable improvements.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior-level experience in commercial banana production.
• Strong technical knowledge of banana agronomy and production systems.
• Track record of improving yield, quality and profitability.
• Understanding of irrigation, drainage, soil health, nutrition and crop protection.
• Commercial acumen and ability to assess costs and investments.
• Experience implementing operational improvements and data-driven performance initiatives.
• A tertiary qualification in Agronomy, Agricultural Science or Horticulture; postgraduate in business/finance is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Assess farm performance and develop strategic improvement plans.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, cost efficiency and ROI.
• Lead implementation of improvements with farm management teams.
• Coach and mentor farm managers, supervisors and technical staff.
• Support biosecurity, risk management and governance across the operation.

Skills

Banana industry experience

Agronomy expertise

Commercial acumen

Leadership

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder engagement

Field presence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agronomy or Agricultural Science

Job description

Premier Fresh Australia is seeking an experienced Banana Consultant to provide strategic, technical and commercial expertise to support the ongoing improvement and performance of our banana farming operations at Darwin Fruit Farms.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced banana industry professional who combines deep agronomic knowledge with strong commercial acumen and a passion for driving operational excellence.

Working closely with the General Manager – Farming & Operations, senior leadership and farm management teams, you will undertake an independent assessment of the current farming operation, identify opportunities for improvement and help translate these into practical strategies that deliver measurable improvements in yield, quality, productivity and profitability.

This is not simply an advisory role. We are looking for someone who can challenge existing practices, identify better ways of working and work alongside our teams to turn recommendations into sustainable operational improvements.

Job Description

About the Role

As Banana Consultant, you will provide independent insight and leadership across the technical, operational and commercial aspects of banana production.

Your focus will be on understanding the current state of the business, developing a clear improvement strategy and supporting its implementation across the farming operation.

Key areas of focus will include:

• Strategic & Commercial Performance: Assess farm performance, develop strategic improvement plans and identify opportunities to improve profitability, cost efficiency and return on investment.
• Agronomy & Crop Performance: Review and improve agronomic programs covering soil health, nutrition, fertilisation, irrigation, drainage, crop protection, crop husbandry, yield and quality.
• Farm Operations: Identify opportunities to improve labour productivity, workflows, supervision, scheduling, equipment utilisation and operational efficiency.
• Block Management & Planning: Strengthen block-level management, crop forecasting, production planning and resource allocation to maximise production outcomes.
• Biosecurity & Risk Management: Review biosecurity preparedness, pest and disease management, surveillance, containment and response strategies.
• Technology & Innovation: Identify and evaluate opportunities to introduce improved farming practices, technology, automation and data-driven decision-making.
• Implementation & Continuous Improvement: Develop and support a prioritised improvement roadmap, ensuring initiatives have clear accountabilities, milestones and measurable outcomes.
• Leadership & Capability: Coach and mentor farm managers, supervisors and technical teams, building internal knowledge and capability for long-term success.

Desired Skills and Experience

About You

You are an established banana industry professional with significant experience in commercial banana production and large-scale farming operations.

You bring a combination of technical expertise, practical farming experience and commercial thinking. You understand that successful farming requires more than good agronomy — it requires disciplined execution, effective people leadership, sound financial decisions and a relentless focus on performance.

You will ideally bring:

• Extensive senior-level experience in commercial banana production.
• Strong technical knowledge of banana agronomy, crop management and production systems.
• Demonstrated experience improving farm productivity, yield, quality and profitability.
• A sound understanding of irrigation, drainage, soil health, nutrition and crop protection.
• Strong knowledge of banana pests, diseases and biosecurity management.
• Commercial acumen, including the ability to assess costs, returns, risks and investment opportunities.
• Experience implementing operational improvements, technology and data-driven performance initiatives.
• The ability to influence, coach and develop people at all levels of an organisation.
• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A tertiary qualification in Agronomy, Agricultural Science, Horticulture or a related discipline is preferred. Postgraduate qualifications in business, finance or management will be highly regarded.

Your Approach

You are practical, commercially minded and comfortable spending time in the field with operational teams.

You are confident challenging established practices constructively, questioning the status quo and bringing fresh perspectives to complex operational challenges.

You combine strategic thinking with the ability to get into the detail, understand what is happening on the ground and identify improvements that are realistic, measurable and commercially worthwhile.

Most importantly, you enjoy sharing knowledge, developing people and building sustainable improvements rather than creating dependency on external advice.

Why Join Premier Fresh Australia?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the performance and future direction of a significant banana farming operation.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Influence the strategic direction and long-term performance of the farming business.
• Work alongside experienced operational leaders and industry professionals.
• Drive meaningful improvements in production, productivity and commercial performance.
• Introduce new ideas, technologies and improved farming practices.
• Build capability and leave a lasting legacy within the operation.

At Premier Fresh Australia, we value Community, People and Environment. We believe in building strong partnerships, developing our people and operating responsibly to support sustainable agricultural production.