Station Manager - New South Wales, Australia - Drover Ag

Description

Paraway Pastoral Company, after several years of running Cooinbil and Steam Plains as combined operations, have decided to separate these two large-scale station businesses in 2024. As a result, we are seeking an exceptional candidate to join their team as Station Manager for Cooinbil Station. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong leadership across safety, production, planning, logistics, and animal welfare, with significant experience in large-scale operations, strategic thinking, effective communication, and organisational skills while embodying Paraway's core principles of opportunity, accountability, and integrity.

About Paraway:

Paraway Pastoral Company Limited (Paraway) is a prominent player in the Australian agricultural industry and is known for its extensive sheep and cattle enterprises. Founded in 2007, Paraway has grown remarkably, becoming one of Australia's largest pastoral land owners/operators, with a combined land holding of over 4.4 million hectares.

Paraway has acquired 35 properties, consolidating them into 28 distinct pastoral businesses. The company manages a diverse livestock portfolio of 220,000 cattle and 250,000 sheep alongside dryland and irrigated cropping activities, showcasing its operational capacity. Paraway is a symbol of excellence and innovation in Australian agriculture, offering a unique opportunity for individuals to contribute their skills to a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation dedicated to the future of Australian agriculture.

The Role:

In this role, you will lead a large operation in the Southern region and report directly to the Southern General Manager. Your responsibilities extend to building on the existing enterprise breeding operation base and developing a comprehensive Annual and 5-year Business Plans for your Station. These plans encompass critical components like production, people safety, balance sheets, budgets, capital plans, and strategies for environmental sustainability. Moreover, you're entrusted with the financial performance of the asset, and accountable for meeting key business expectations which are supported by a regionally allocated business analyst. Also fundamental to work in alignment with other Paraway stations for a feeder of breeding ewes to their operations.

Practical leadership and management skills are essential in this role, including a strong commitment to animal welfare & nutrition, adeptness in large-scale livestock logistics, feeding, marketing & selling, strategic thinking, and an intricate understanding of livestock water systems. Building and nurturing relationships is at the core of your role, whether with contractors engaged in lamb marking and shearing or fostering positive community connections that enhance the property's reputation. Your responsibilities extend to managing stakeholders internally and externally, overseeing personnel, and effectively handling people management tasks, including managing a sizable team of staff.

As a leader in this role, you are pivotal in guiding one of the southern region's properties towards excellence. Your unwavering commitment to safety, production, sustainability, business acumen, practical expertise, and relationship-building will profoundly impact the enterprise's success.

The Minimum Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years working within the industry, with at least 5 years served in a senior management role in a large-scale livestock operation (such as operations manager, farm manager, etc.)
• Solid commercial understanding
• Ability to identify, manage stakeholder and business needs
• Willingness to work at all levels of the organisation and deliver solutions across a spectrum of activities from tactical to strategic with forward planning.
• Ability to lead a station team and provide constructive feedback and guidance to employees with positive results
• Strong leadership capabilities and team player
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality

Your responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leading the overall management of a large-scale production system
• Leadership of Workplace, Health and Safety
• Excellent planning, logistics and time management
• Lead and maintain a cohesive team of staff, demonstrating hands-on leadership.
• Diligent future planning, budget, and cost control with full accountability
• Work with the General Manager to develop goals, plans and budgets for the enterprise
• Overseeing the implementation of enterprise goals, plans and budgets
• Work closely with external contractors, inputs and livestock marketing
• Thorough and transparent reporting of outcomes
• Make strategic and operational decisions that ensure the best use of resources for a profitable and sustainable future

Cooinbil Station:

Situated 20 kilometres from Coleambally lies Cooinbil Station, a sprawling 89,040-hectare property within Paraway's portfolio since late 2010. This dynamic station has a current carrying capacity of DSE, which is predominantly sheep breeding with a contingent of trade and agistment cattle. The landscape encompasses native open plains for pastoral grazing and cleared areas for irrigated cropping, currently growing corn.

Water is abundant, with a network of waterways and bore systems ensuring a reliable supply for livestock and irrigation. The property shines with extensive fencing, well-designed laneways, and numerous livestock facilities. It offers a unique living experience, with staff families accommodated across various on-site complexes. Cooinbil Station is a testament to agricultural excellence, offering vast opportunities for those dedicated to shaping the future of farming in Australia.

The Offer:

This position offers competitive compensation packages based on experience, with long-term and short-term incentives, comprehensive coverage of on-station living expenses, work vehicle, phone, and internet. Suitable accommodations are available to accommodate both couples and families.

Cooinbil is conveniently situated within an hour's drive of three key hubs: Deniliquin, Griffith, and Hay, offering a wide range of essential services, including access to schools, medical facilities, shopping centres, and sporting opportunities. For more extensive services and amenities, Wagga Wagga and Griffith are within a 2-hour drive, providing additional resources and conveniences.

Want this job?

If you feel you are right for this position, please submit an up-to-date resume along with the contact details of three references. Preference will be given to those who supply a cover letter addressing their suitability - that is, tell us what you love about the role and how you think you're the right fit.