• 3-year fixed term contract
• Full time hours
• Far North Coast NSW
• Package includes fully maintained vehicle

Subtropical Dairy is the northern Australian regional development programme of Dairy Australia, the national services body for the dairy industry. Subtropical Dairy provides regional services in dairy research, development and extension (RD&E) across Queensland and northern NSW. Our employees are passionate about helping farmers adapt to the changing operating environment, and achieve a profitable, sustainable dairy industry.

The role of Regional Extension Officer (REO) is to provide effective leadership and support for the dairy industry to deliver regional extension activities and on-farm services. The role has a strong focus on working closely with regional networks in northern NSW and south-east Queensland to ensure that dairy farmers, advisers and service providers are well engaged in extension activities and are kept up to date on regional, state and national dairy RD&E programs and information. This role will also be responsible for undertaking dairy business analysis and providing services within a technical discipline. Applicable disciplines include agronomy, forage utilisation and conservation, herd nutrition and herd reproduction. The REO will also provide discipline technical support to other REOs in Subtropical Dairy. It is anticipated that approximately 40% of this role will involve on-farm technical service delivery.

 The Regional Extension Officer will have a particular focus on:

• Direct contact with farmers and other stakeholders to drive engagement, understand needs, and ensure networks are strong and effective;
• Managing or leading projects that deliver against strategic priorities for Subtropical Dairy and Dairy Australia. This includes initiating development of extension activities or other support if gaps related to priority regional needs are identified;
• Coordinating and implementing plans and activities to ensure regional extension delivery is effective, drives practice change and duplication of effort is minimized;
• Delivery of technical services to dairy businesses.

Essential Requirements:

• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills, adaptable to the audience;
• The ability to initiate and establish partnerships and networks, maintaining effective relationships and influencing key partners and stakeholders;
• Outcome driven focus, with the ability to coordinate multiple activities;
• The capacity to exercise sound judgement and to execute operational planning;
• High level capacity for self-management and initiative while operating with minimal supervision;
• Experience in the delivery of information, programs and farm services to the Australian dairy industry;
• A strong understanding of farming systems, technical aspects of farm production and dairy farmers’ requirements;
• Technical expertise in a dairy-related discipline such as agronomy, forage utilisation and conservation, herd nutrition or herd reproduction;
• The ability to undertake dairy farm business financial and/or biophysical analysis;
• A tertiary qualification in agriculture (or similar) or veterinary science, with at least three year’s post-graduation experience.
• A home office or the facilities to establish a home office.

Why work for Dairy Australia:

At Subtropical Dairy and Dairy Australia, we aim to provide benefits that promote the overall wellbeing of our employees. This includes vaccinations and health checks as well as salary packaging and paid parental leave.

A competitive remuneration package inclusive of a company vehicle is available and can be discussed upon application