Program Manager - VegWatch

AUSVEG; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AUSVEG is recruiting a National Manager – Biosecurity and Extension to lead the VegWatch program, coordinating partners and delivering program activities across Australia.

The role requires strong stakeholder engagement, program management, and delivery of extension and communications outputs within a biosecurity context. National travel is expected as part of engagement with regulators and industry.

Qualifications

• Tertiary level education in plant pathology, entomology, horticulture or related field.
• Experience in Australian plant biosecurity, horticultural industry or related sector.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including reports and stakeholder updates.
• Ability to coordinate complex, multi-partner programs with growers, government, research bodies and industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day VegWatch program coordination, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Develop and maintain annual workplans in consultation with partners.
• Facilitate partner and reference group meetings and milestone reporting.
• Coordinate Monitoring and Evaluation activities and input to surveys.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Coordination

Communication skills

Project management

Biosecurity knowledge

Travel nationally

Hort Innovation portal

Industry extension experience

Education

Tertiary-level education in plant pathology, entomology, horticulture or related field

Job description

MANAGER:

National Manager – Biosecurity and Extension

DEPARTMENT:

Biosecurity and Extension

DIRECT REPORTS:

2 - Surveillance Coordinator and Program Administration Support Officer

About AUSVEG

AUSVEG is the prescribed peak industry body for the Australian vegetable, onion and potato industries. To help our growers and our industry succeed, we focus on core activities and are guided by values that underpin everything we do.

We identify and prioritise the issues of our members and advocate on behalf of growers to ensure their needs are heard and understood by decision makers. We deliver projects that produce outstanding results for growers using our skills, resources, and credibility as an organisation.

Over several decades, we’ve established a proven track record of service provision that’s supported the growing success of Australian horticulture.

About VegWatch

VegWatch (VG22004) is a national program aimed at strengthening biosecurity preparedness and business continuity for the Australian vegetable industry funded through Hort Innovation. This project is led by AUSVEG, partnering with Plant Health Australia (PHA), the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA), Agriculture Victoria (AgVic), Queensland Department of Primary Industries, and RM Consulting Group, the program operates across three key themes: Surveillance and Diagnostics, Data and Informed Decision-Making, and Business Resilience and Continuity. The Program Manager plays a central role in coordinating and managing all elements of the program, acting as the primary point of contact between partners, Hort Innovation, and industry stakeholders.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Coordination and Management

• Lead day-to-day coordination and management of the VegWatch program, ensuring all project activities are delivered on time and within budget
• Develop and maintain annual workplans in consultation with the partners
• Facilitate partner and reference group meetings
• Compile and submit Milestone Reports to Hort Innovation
• Coordinate and support the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities delivered by RMCG, including input to baseline, midpoint and endpoint surveys.

Stakeholder and Partner Engagement

• Serve as the primary liaison between AUSVEG, Hort Innovation, program partners, industry stakeholders, and biosecurity regulators maintaining productive working relationships
• Facilitate regular communication with Program Reference Group members

Communications and Extension

• Oversee the program's communication and extension activities including development of resources such as magazine articles, presentations and fact sheets

OTHER OFFICE DUTIES

• Communicating with staff, managers in the Leadership Team, or others by providing information to co-workers, and others by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Provide support to other project managers and business leaders when requested.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Tertiary level education in plant pathology, entomology, horticulture or related field
• Demonstrated experience working in Australian plant biosecurity, the Australian horticultural industry or related sector
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience in producing reports, stakeholder updates and communications materials for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to coordinate complex, multi-partner programs involving growers, government agencies, research bodies and industry organisations.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across government, research and industry.
• High level of organisational capability and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines.
• Understanding of the biosecurity system in Australia.
• Ability to travel nationally.
• Familiarity with Hort Innovation project reporting requirements and the Hort Innovation portal.
• Experience in coordinating or contributing to industry extension and communications programs.

If you have any queries, please contact Zarmeen Hassan via email **************@ausveg.com.au

Note – If you have previously applied for this position, please do not re-apply as we already have your CV on file. Thank you.