Orchard Manager/Lead

SMART Collective Pty Limited; Burradoo; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SMART Collective Pty Limited seeks an Orchard Manager/Lead to oversee the citrus and apple orchards and diverse communal garden at Burradoo Park Farm in the Southern Highlands. You will lead hands-on horticulture, implement regenerative practices and provide demonstrations to visitors and education groups.

The role combines practical orchard management with planning, record-keeping and coordinating casual staff, volunteers or farm hands across 4-5 days a week, including weekends.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage the small citrus and apple orchard throughout the annual growing cycle
• Experience with pruning, feeding, mulching, weed control and soil health management
• Knowledge of monitoring tree health, pests and disease
• Experience with irrigation and water management
• Ability to maintain accurate records including varieties, tree health, yields and seasonal observations
• Knowledge of regenerative horticultural practices
• Ability to provide practical demonstrations and explanations to visitors, volunteers and education groups
• Experience coordinating casual staff, volunteers or farm hands
• Ability to develop and implement seasonal orchard management plans
• Capacity to work 4-5 days a week, including at least one weekend day

Responsibilities

• Manage the citrus and apple orchard including 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 the 79 different fruit/tree/plant varieties in the communal garden
• Develop seasonal planting, propagation and maintenance plans
• Apply and demonstrate regenerative horticultural practices including composting, mulching and integrated pest management
• Provide practical demonstrations and explanations to visitors, volunteers and education groups
• Develop annual and seasonal work plans and coordinate casual staff, volunteers or farm hands
• Maintain equipment and ensure safe work practices

Job description

SMART Collective Pty Limited - Burradoo NSW

The Orchard Manager/Lead manages the small citrus and apple orchard throughout the annual growing cycle, as well as an extensive number of fruit/tree/plant varieties in the communal garden, and demonstrates regenerative horticultural practices. This role combines hands-on orchard and garden management with education and demonstration responsibilities at Burradoo Park Farm in the Southern Highlands.

Key responsibilities

Manage the citrus and apple orchard including 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 the 79 different fruit/tree/plant varieties in the communal garden

Develop seasonal planting, propagation and maintenance plans

Apply and demonstrate regenerative horticultural practices including composting, mulching and integrated pest management

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

Develop annual and seasonal work plans and coordinate casual staff, volunteers or farm hands

Maintain equipment and ensure safe work practices

About you

Ability to manage the small citrus and apple orchard throughout the annual growing cycle

Experience with pruning, feeding, mulching, weed control and soil health management

Knowledge of monitoring tree health, pests and disease

Experience with irrigation and water management

Ability to maintain accurate records including varieties, tree health, yields and seasonal observations

Knowledge of regenerative horticultural practices

Ability to provide practical demonstrations and explanations to visitors, volunteers and education groups

Experience coordinating casual staff, volunteers or farm hands

Ability to develop and implement seasonal orchard management plans

Capacity to work 4-5 days a week, including at least one weekend day