Your Employer

Our client is a well-established Australian-owned horticulture business producing premium citrus, pome fruit, table grapes, stone fruit and kiwifruit across Australia. With a strong focus on quality, sustainable water management and continual investment, they are developing one of Central Queensland's most significant irrigated horticultural operations.

Located near Emerald, the business is entering an exciting phase of growth, with sophisticated irrigation infrastructure supporting both current production and future expansion. This is an opportunity to join a business where irrigation plays a critical role in crop performance and where your expertise will directly influence operational success.

The Role

Reporting to the General Manager, the Irrigation Manager will lead the planning, operation and continual improvement of irrigation and fertigation across approximately 500 hectares of citrus and table grapes, with infrastructure designed to support more than 800 hectares into the future. This is a hands-on leadership role balancing irrigation scheduling, preventative maintenance, staff supervision and technical problem solving to maximise water efficiency and crop performance.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and manage irrigation schedules using crop, weather and soil moisture data.
• Operate, monitor and optimise automated irrigation and fertigation systems.
• Lead preventative maintenance across pumps, filters, valves, pipelines and controllers.
• Coordinate and support a small irrigation team while promoting safe work practices.
• Monitor water use, system performance and compliance with licensing requirements.
• Maintain accurate irrigation records and prepare operational reports.
• Work closely with farm management to support productivity and continuous improvement.

About You

You are an experienced irrigation professional who enjoys solving problems, takes ownership and understands that reliable irrigation underpins successful horticultural production. You combine strong technical knowledge with a practical, hands-on approach and enjoy working closely with operational teams.

To be successful you will bring:

• Proven irrigation management experience within large-scale horticulture or irrigated agriculture.
• Strong understanding of irrigation scheduling, fertigation and water-use efficiency.
• Experience maintaining pumps, filters, valves, pipelines and automated irrigation systems.
• Ability to lead and mentor irrigation staff while maintaining high safety standards.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with a proactive preventative maintenance mindset.
• Excellent communication, reporting and computer skills.
• Chemical handling accreditation and a HRW or Forklift Licence (or ability to obtain).

The Benefits:

This is an outstanding opportunity to take ownership of irrigation across a significant horticultural development while enjoying the lifestyle benefits of Central Queensland. Working closely with senior management, you'll play a key role in shaping irrigation performance as the farm transitions toward full production.

• Salary of $110,000-$120,000 plus super.
• Quality on-farm accommodation (3 or 4-bedroom home).
• Fully maintained work vehicle.
• Monday to Friday salaried position with flexibility as required.
• Opportunity to work with sophisticated automated irrigation infrastructure and future farm expansion.

Choose Agri Talent

Agri Talent provides permanent recruitment and executive search services exclusively for Australian agribusiness. Our extensive digital network connects quality candidates to diverse and exciting roles with respected clients across Australia’s agriculture sector.

For more information, please contact Declan Andrew, Recruitment Consultant, Agri Talent on 04•• ••• 050.