Orchard Lead

SMART Collective Pty Limited; Burradoo; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SMART Collective Pty Limited in Burradoo, NSW is seeking an experienced horticultural professional to lead regenerative orchard management across the annual cycle. You will work with the Market Garden manager to develop seasonal plans and ensure soil health, biodiversity, and reduced chemical inputs.

You will manage pruning, irrigation, harvest, and record-keeping for 79 varieties, while mentoring volunteers and education groups. This role emphasizes practical demonstrations and safe practices.

Qualifications

• Apply regenerative horticultural practices.
• Build soil health using composting, mulching and groundcovers.
• Integrate biodiversity and beneficial insects into orchard management.
• Minimise chemical inputs and use integrated pest management.
• Trial different growing and orchard-management techniques.
• Provide practical demonstrations and explanations to visitors, volunteers and education groups.

Responsibilities

• Manage the small citrus and apple orchard throughout the annual growing cycle.
• Work with the Market Garden manager to develop and implement seasonal orchard management plans.
• Manage pruning, feeding, mulching, weed control and soil health.
• Monitor tree health, pests, disease and environmental conditions.
• Coordinate irrigation and water management.
• Manage flowering, fruit set, thinning and crop development.
• Coordinate harvesting, sorting, storage and appropriate use of fruit.
• Maintain orchard records, including varieties, tree health, yields and seasonal observations.
• Take responsibility for the establishment, care and ongoing management of 79 different fruit/tree/plant varieties in SAKG.
• Develop annual and seasonal work plans and coordinate casual staff, volunteers or farm hands assisting with horticultural activities.

Skills

Regenerative horticulture practices

Soil health management

Biodiversity integration

Integrated pest management

Volunteer coordination

Budget monitoring

Job description

SMART Collective Pty Limited - Burradoo NSW

Key responsibilities

Manage the small citrus and apple orchard throughout the annual growing cycle

Work with the Market Garden manager to develop and implement seasonal orchard management plans

Manage pruning, feeding, mulching, weed control and soil health

Monitor tree health, pests, disease and environmental conditions

Coordinate irrigation and water management

Manage flowering, fruit set, thinning and crop development

Coordinate harvesting, sorting, storage and appropriate use of fruit

Maintain orchard records, including varieties, tree health, yields and seasonal observations

Take responsibility for the establishment, care and ongoing management of 79 different fruit/tree/plant varieties in SAKG

Develop annual and seasonal work plans and coordinate casual staff, volunteers or farm hands assisting with horticultural activities

About you

Apply and demonstrate regenerative horticultural practices

Build soil health through composting, mulching, groundcovers and biological approaches

Integrate biodiversity and beneficial insects into orchard management

Minimise chemical inputs and use integrated pest management

Trial different growing and orchard-management techniques

Provide practical demonstrations and explanations to visitors, volunteers and education groups

Support volunteers and work experience participants

Maintain equipment and ensure safe work practices

Monitor expenditure against an agreed budget

Provide regular updates on orchard/garden condition, production and priorities