Orchard Manager/Lead
- Working Arrangement: 4-5 days a week, including at least one weekend day.
- Primary Working location: Burradoo Park Farm, Southern Highlands
Position Overview
Orchard Management
- Manage the small citrus and apple orchard throughout the annual growing cycle.
- Work with the Market Garden manager to develop and implement seasonal orchard management plans.
- Manage pruning, feeding, mulching, weed control and soil health.
- Monitor tree health, pests, disease and environmental conditions.
- Coordinate irrigation and water management.
- Manage flowering, fruit set, thinning and crop development.
- Coordinate harvesting, sorting, storage and appropriate use of fruit.
- Maintain orchard records, including varieties, tree health, yields and seasonal observations.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, biodiversity and resilience.
- Engage specialist contractors/arborists when required.
Manage Orchard in SAKG (communal garden)
- Take responsibility for the establishment, care and ongoing management of the 79 different fruit/tree/plant varieties.
- Maintain accurate variety identification and planting records.
- Develop seasonal planting, propagation and maintenance plans.
- Monitor plant health, pests, disease and soil condition.
- Manage pruning, feeding, mulching, irrigation and general horticultural care.
- Protect and maintain less common or heritage varieties.
- Ensure the garden remains productive, healthy and visually engaging.
Regenerative Education / Demonstration role
- Apply and demonstrate regenerative horticultural practices.
- Build soil health through composting, mulching, groundcovers and biological approaches.
- Integrate biodiversity and beneficial insects into orchard management.
- Minimise chemical inputs and use integrated pest management.
- Trial different growing and orchard-management techniques.
- Capture learnings, successes and failures to support BPF’s education and storytelling.
- Provide practical demonstrations and explanations to visitors, volunteers and education groups.
- Help make the orchard and garden a living demonstration of regenerative horticulture.
- Provide specialist knowledge to the Education/Farm Experience team.
- Participate in occasional workshops, demonstrations or tours.
- Explain seasonal activities such as pruning, grafting, propagation, harvesting and soil management.
- Support volunteers and work experience participants.
Planning and Coordination
- Provide regular updates on orchard/garden condition, production and priorities.
- Develop annual and seasonal work plans.
- Coordinate casual staff, volunteers or farm hands assisting with horticultural activities.
- Manage horticultural supplies and inputs.
- Maintain equipment and ensure safe work practices.
- Monitor expenditure against an agreed budget.
How to Apply
Please submit your application to Janette via email.
