Agricultural Economist - Rockhampton, Australia - Michael Page Australia

Description

About Our Client

Our client is a well renowned state government body, supporting an industry that is highly valuable across QLD.

Joining the rural development team, you will support economic decision making across a broad range of projects happening within QLD's beef grazing industry.

Job Description

Working across a variety of projects, the Agricultural Economist plays a key role in driving profitability and sustainability measures for the Queensland grazing industry. Primarily, this will involve responsibility for economic evaluation of new technologies and improved management practices occurring within beef grazing production systems.

On a day to day, this will include:

• Using appropriate economic methodologies to undertake economic analyses (gross margin analysis, cost benefit analysis, partial budgeting, risk analysis, bio-economic models, etc.) to evaluate a wide range of contemporary agricultural production activities, natural resource management initiatives and policy issues.
• Utilising and providing training to graziers and beef extension officers in the use of economic decision support tools.
• Visiting producers to gather property and herd information and develop scenarios to evaluate the implications to farm profitability from implementing relevant grazing management strategies and options.
• Utilise economic results and findings to prepare case studies, reports, papers, factsheets and other communication material.
• Presenting and extending economic findings and other information to farmers at workshops, field days, one-on-one and via other communication methods to help inform decision-making, assist with business planning and facilitating improved farm profitability and sustainability.
• Undertaking required projects and activities by self-organising workflow priorities to ensure project milestones are delivered on time and positive outcomes achieved.
• Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships (in multi-disciplinary teams) with landholders, project partners, industry organisations, colleagues, natural resource management groups, universities and other government agencies.

The Successful Applicant

The successful candidate will ideally be degree qualified in economics, agribusiness or commerce, with experience or passion for advancing the agricultural sector. You will be comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders to help influence and drive economic decision making that supports the objectives of the wider department and industry.

Other key experience and/or traits includes:

• Comprehensive understanding of economic methodologies and applications to support economic analyses.
• Ability to utilise economic decision tools, and to train graziers and other stakeholders in using them.
• Strong written communication and ability to prepare case studies, reports and other communication material.
• Ability to work with a diverse range of stakeholders, and to foster relationships with those internally and externally.
• Ability to self-organise workflow to meet project goals and deadlines.
• Ability to travel to sites to meet with industry stakeholders - Australian Driving License required.

What's on Offer

On offer are full-time contract roles, to be based out of either the Mareeba and Rockhampton offices.

The hourly rate for this position is $61.49/hour + Super, aligning with government guidelines for the level of this position (P03).

Please note - you are required to be able to commute to the Rockhampton or Mareeba office to be considered for this role.