Technical Officer

AgXtra; Horsham; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training & development

Diverse field trials exposure

Supportive team

Job summary

AgXtra in Horsham, VIC, seeks a Technical Officer to join our field team and support broadacre trial delivery across Western Victoria. The role is hands-on, outdoors, and requires practical crop experience and a safety‑minded approach.

You will assist with site prep, sowing, spraying, crop maintenance and data collection while following SOPs and trial protocols to ensure accurate results for our research program.

Qualifications

• Practical experience in broadacre agriculture or crop research.
• Knowledge of broadacre crops and seasonal farming operations.
• Good communication skills and teamwork mindset.
• Strong commitment to safety and equipment maintenance.
• Current driver's license is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with trial site preparation, establishment, maintenance and harvest.
• Operate sowing, spraying and harvesting machinery and equipment.
• Carry out backpack spraying and crop maintenance tasks.
• Support crop monitoring, data collection and field assessments.
• Identify crop health issues affecting trial outcomes and report them.
• Maintain machinery and trial sites in a safe, organized manner.
• Follow trial protocols, SOPs and safety requirements.
• Maintain accurate records and support timely seasonal planning.
• Collaborate with Research team to meet trial deadlines.

Skills

Broadacre farming

Field operations

Data collection

Safety awareness

Driver's license

Education

Agricultural experience

Tools

Agricultural machinery

Job description

We are seeking a Technical Officer with practical broadacre experience to join our Horsham team and support the delivery of field trials across Western Victoria.

In many ways, we are farming on a miniature scale. Our trials involve the same seasonal activities as broadacre farming; site preparation, sowing, spraying, crop maintenance and harvest, but across small research plots where accuracy and attention to detail are essential.

This is a hands-on, field-based role for someone who understands broadacre cropping and enjoys the practical side of agriculture. Working closely with our Research team, you will help ensure trials are established, maintained and assessed safely, accurately and in accordance with trial protocols and AgXtra's Standard Operating Procedures.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who have worked in broadacre farming, agricultural field operations or crop research and are looking to apply their practical experience in a research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with trial site preparation, establishment, maintenance and harvest

• Operate agricultural machinery and equipment used in sowing, spraying and harvesting

• Undertake backpack spraying and hands-on crop maintenance, including weed, insect and disease management activities

• Support crop monitoring, field assessments and accurate data collection

• Identify and report crop health issues that may affect trial outcomes

• Maintain machinery, equipment and trial sites to a safe and organised standard

• Follow trial protocols, Standard Operating Procedures and safety requirements

• Maintain accurate records and contribute to the integrity of trial data

• Work with the Research team to plan and complete seasonal activities and meet trial deadlines

About You

You are practical, dependable and comfortable working outdoors in a broadacre cropping environment. You understand that successful field research relies on good preparation, attention to detail and getting the job done properly.

You will bring:

• Practical experience in broadacre agriculture, cropping operations or agricultural research

• Knowledge of broadacre crops and seasonal farming operations

• Good communication skills and a willingness to work as part of a team

• A strong commitment to safety and maintaining equipment

• A current driver's licence

Experience in field trials, crop assessments, chemical application or machinery maintenance would be highly regarded. A truck licence would be advantageous.

What We Offer

• A welcoming and supportive team

• The opportunity to work across a diverse range of broadacre field trials

• Exposure to emerging agricultural products, practices and technologies

• Training and opportunities to further develop your technical skills

• A pathway to build your career in applied agricultural research

• Meaningful work supporting the future of Australian agriculture

If you have a practical background in broadacre agriculture and are interested in applying your skills in a research environment, we would welcome your application.