Head Stockperson

Australian Agricultural Company; Mount Isa City; On-site; AUD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Air-conditioned accommodation

Meals provided

Transfer opportunities

Horse culture

Outback experience

Job summary

Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) is seeking a Head Stockperson at Avon Downs to lead daily livestock operations and guide a team to achieve high welfare and safety standards. You will work with the Station Manager to drive performance across livestock and station activities.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong cattle handling and animal husbandry skills, and a proactive approach to coaching staff and maintaining records.

Qualifications

• Experience leading stockcamp or a senior stockperson role.
• Strong cattle handling, horse riding and husbandry skills.
• Proven ability to coach and develop people.
• Understanding of livestock welfare, biosecurity and QA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop the stockcamp team.
• Coordinate mustering, processing, drafting and livestock movements.
• Champion safe work practices and promote a strong safety culture.
• Coach and assess team members using AACo's Skills Framework.
• Maintain high animal welfare standards and low-stress stock handling.
• Monitor livestock health and maintain accurate records.
• Support maintenance of water infrastructure, fencing, yards and assets.
• Contribute to planning and delivery of station work programs.

Skills

Cattle handling

Horse riding

Leadership

People development

Livestock welfare

Biosecurity

Team mentoring

Tools

Stockmate

Job description

Established in 1824, Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) is one of Australia's largest integrated cattle and beef producers and is the country's oldest continuously operating company. Today, AACo owns and operates a strategic balance of stations, feedlots and farms spanning approximately 6.5 million hectares of land across Queensland and the Northern Territory. Our people manage a large-scale Wagyu herd, producing consistently high-quality branded beef distributed to over 20 countries around the world.

We are fostering a culture that values safety, inclusion and opportunity, and are committed to integrating care for our people, animals and land into the way we do business - Reimagining Australian agriculture to share with the world - and we'd love you to join us.

About the role:

As the Head Stockperson at Avon Downs, you'll play a hands-on role coordinating daily livestock operations, leading and developing your team, and ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently and to the highest animal welfare standards. Working closely with the Station Manager, you'll help drive performance across livestock, people, infrastructure and station operations while fostering a strong team culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor and develop the stockcamp team.
• Coordinate mustering, processing, drafting and livestock movements.
• Champion safe work practices and promote a strong safety culture.
• Coach and assess team members through AACo's Operational Skills Framework.
• Maintain high standards of animal welfare and low-stress stock handling.
• Monitor livestock health and maintain accurate livestock records.
• Support the maintenance of water infrastructure, fencing, yards and station assets.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of station work programs.

What We're Looking For:

• Previous experience as a Leading Hand or Head Stockperson within a pastoral operation.
• Strong cattle handling, horse-riding and animal husbandry skills.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop people.
• Sound understanding of livestock welfare, biosecurity and quality assurance requirements.
• Experience with Stockmate or similar livestock recording systems (desirable).
• Strong communication, planning and problem-solving skills.
• Current Driver's Licence and Firearms Licence (or ability to obtain).

Why AACo?

We're a values-led organisation where curiosity, generosity and accountability guide how we work. We care deeply about our people, our animals and the land on which we live and work, and we're proud of our legacy - one that's rooted in history and driven by innovation.

Here's what you can look forward to at Avon Downs:

• Comfortable air-conditioned accommodation and prepared meals provided.
• Opportunities to transfer to other AACo properties as roles become available.
• Supportive teams that work hard and enjoy the journey together.
• Strong horse culture and the chance to ride some exceptional horses.
• Experience the Australian outback at its best.

AACo is a world-leading provider of beef and agricultural products.

AACo owns and operates a strategic balance of properties, feedlots and farms comprising around 7 million hectares of land in Queensland and the Northern Territory. This equates to roughly 1% of Australia's land mass.

Having been established in 1824, we are the oldest continuously operating company in Australia.

We are committed to developing our operating systems using the world's best practices and have company-wide accreditation through the LPAQA, EUCAS, NFAS, WQA and MSA quality assurance programs.

With an established track record of environmentally sensitive land use, we were one of the first companies to employ our own field rangelands officer.

Over the past decade, we have expanded into value-adding beef through the Branded Beef division of the company.

Source: This is an extract from the company's own website.

AACo is a world-leading provider of beef and agricultural products.

AACo owns and operates a strategic balance of properties, feedlots and farms comprising around 7 million hectares of land in Queensland and the Northern Territory. This equates to roughly 1% of Australia's land mass.

Having been established in 1824, we are the oldest continuously operating company in Australia.

We are committed to developing our operating systems using the world's best practices and have company-wide accreditation through the LPAQA, EUCAS, NFAS, WQA and MSA quality assurance programs.

With an established track record of environmentally sensitive land use, we were one of the first companies to employ our own field rangelands officer.

Over the past decade, we have expanded into value-adding beef through the Branded Beef division of the company.

Source: This is an extract from the company's own website.