Senior Farm Manager - Riverland

The Mitolo Group; South Australia; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mitolo Group is seeking a Senior Farm Manager to lead three Riverland sites covering thousands of acres of potatoes, onions and cereals. You will align with agronomy, drive planting schedules, harvest targets and packout performance while building capability across Farm Managers and the cereal team.

With a focus on safety, cost control and continuous improvement, you will manage labour budgets, reporting, and asset maintenance to support a high-performing cropping program in South Australia.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years managing large-scale multi-site farming operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead WHS across three Riverland sites.
• Coach Farm Managers and Agronomist to deliver planting/growing programs.
• Oversee cereal program: seeding, spraying and harvest to plan.
• Manage budgets and labour with monthly actuals.
• Provide weekly farm performance reporting and risk reviews.
• Ensure equipment maintenance and capital planning.

Skills

Leadership

Farm management

Safety culture

Budget management

Stakeholder communication

Data tools

Education

Business/agriculture degree

Tools

Planning systems

Job description

We are looking for a commercially minded and operationally driven Senior Farm Manager to lead and support our Riverland Farm Managers to deliver high-performing, large-scale crop production. Working closely with the Farm Operations Manager and overseeing three sites, approximately 4,000 acres of washed potatoes, 900 acres of onions and 15,000 acres of cereals annually, this is a rare opportunity to lead a substantial, diverse cropping program for one of Australia's leading potato and onion growers.

Acting as the critical link between farm execution and commercial delivery, you will guide the Farm Managers to execute the planting and growing program set by our Agronomy team, resolve obstacles on the ground, and drive each site toward its harvest yield and packout targets.

Key responsibilities

Lead the way on Work Health and Safety across all three Riverland sites and hold Farm Managers accountable for a strong safety culture

Work closely with the Farm Operations Manager on all day-to-day aspects of the role, and with the Safety, Operations, Agronomy, Seed, Maintenance, HR and Farm Admin teams

Coach, mentor and manage three Farm Managers and the Cereal Farm Agronomist, building capability and accountability across each site team

Guide Farm Managers to execute the potato and onion planting and growing program to schedule, driving harvest yield and packout

Oversee the 15,000-acre Riverland Cereal Program, directing the Cereal Farm Agronomist to keep seeding, spraying and harvest on plan

Keep sites fully resourced, lead recruitment where needed, and manage labour and farm operating budgets against monthly actuals

Provide weekly reporting on farm performance, yield and packout forecasts, budget, risk and resourcing

Ensure machinery and equipment are maintained and fit for purpose, and oversee capital planning with the Maintenance Manager

Maintain a high standard of farm cleanliness, including tidy yards, workshops, coolrooms, sheds and buildings, in line with 5S

Ensure compliance with chemical use, water licensing, food safety and environmental requirements

About you

Tertiary qualifications in business, operations, agriculture or a related discipline (or equivalent practical experience)

A minimum of 5 years' experience managing large-scale business operations, ideally across multiple sites

Demonstrated experience in staff management, coaching and mentoring, including recruitment and selection

Strong commercial acumen and a proven ability to manage operational and labour budgets against actuals

A practical, safety-first approach and sharp decision-making in a dynamic, time-sensitive environment

Sound knowledge of compliance, environmental stewardship and sustainable land-use practices

Confidence using digital platforms, planning systems and data tools to drive performance

A current driver's licence; ChemCert accreditation and a forklift licence are desirable

Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 101-1,000 employees

Mitolo Family Farms is one of Australia's leading growers and packers of potatoes and onions. What began in 1972 as a market garden at Virginia in South Australia, is now a national growing and packing operation supplying fresh produce all year round.

Our team works across farming and harvest, packing and processing, logistics, engineering and maintenance, quality assurance and our support office.

Our success is about our people. With hands-on training and real career pathways there's an opportunity to learn, develop and grow your career. Whether you are starting out, or an experienced individual looking for your next challenge, your future starts here.

Mitolo Family Farms is one of Australia's leading growers and packers of potatoes and onions. What began in 1972 as a market garden at Virginia in South Australia, is now a national growing and packing operation supplying fresh produce all year round.

Our team works across farming and harvest, packing and processing, logistics, engineering and maintenance, quality assurance and our support office.

Our success is about our people. With hands-on training and real career pathways there's an opportunity to learn, develop and grow your career. Whether you are starting out, or an experienced individual looking for your next challenge, your future starts here.

Mitolo Family Farms is one of Australia's leading growers and packers of potatoes and onions. What began in 1972 as a market garden at Virginia in South Australia, is now a national growing and packing operation supplying fresh produce all year round.

Our team works across farming and harvest, packing and processing, logistics, engineering and maintenance, quality assurance and our support office.

Our success is about our people. With hands-on training and real career pathways there's an opportunity to learn, develop and grow your career. Whether you are starting out, or an experienced individual looking for your next challenge, your future starts here.