Victorian Native Grassland Offset Manager

Location: Near Shelford, VIC (Approx. 45 mins from Geelong & Ballarat, 90 mins from Melbourne)

Work Type: Full-Time

About the Role

Warrambeen is a large, historic, family-run farming enterprise near Shelford, combining high-quality Merino sheep and Angus cattle breeding with seasonal cropping. Deeply committed to environmental stewardship, we actively protect and manage approximately 930 hectares of high-value remnant native grasslands (Victorian Volcanic Plains).

We are seeking a hands-on, dedicated Offset Manager to lead the protection, restoration, and operational management of these critically important ecological offsets.

A Note on Peak Season:

While this is a manager-level role requiring high autonomy, planning, and team leadership, it is inherently hands-on. During peak weed season (Spring/Early Summer), you will be on the ground alongside your team - carrying a knapsack and leading from the front to stay ahead of target species.

Key Responsibilities

• Offset Management: Take full responsibility for the operational maintenance, restoration, and weed control across ~930ha of native grassland offsets.
• Hands-on Weed Control: Execute targeted weed control strategies using various application methods (predominantly knapsack and spot spraying).
• Team Leadership: Employ, coordinate, supervise, and work alongside small teams (up to 6 casuals/backpackers) during peak seasonal workloads.
• Ecological Restoration: Direct and carry out seeding, planting, native vegetation establishment, and broader ecological works.
• Fire Management: Plan and execute seasonal ecological controlled burns.
• Infrastructure & Maintenance: Construct and maintain temporary exclusion fencing and perform general land management tasks.
• Compliance & Mapping: Maintain accurate field records, spray logs, and track weed management progress across the property.

Key Selection Criteria (Essential):

• Field Experience: Proven hands-on experience in bush regeneration, land management, or conservation weed control.
• Leadership Skills: Experience supervising or leading small teams on practical field tasks.
• Physical Fitness & Drive: Comfortable working outdoors in variable weather conditions, highly self-motivated, and taking personal accountability for results.
• Botanical Knowledge: Solid plant identification skills (identifying both native species and targeted invasive weeds). Gaps in specific local species can be taught on site.
• Autonomy: Ability to safely and efficiently manage your day-to-day schedule and tasks without direct supervision.

Desirable:

• Qualifications (TAFE or Tertiary) in Conservation & Ecosystem Management (CLM), Natural Resource Management (NRM), or relevant environmental fields.
• Current Agricultural Chemical User Permit (ACUP).
• Experience with Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP) grassland ecosystems.
• Practical ecological burning experience.
• Basic GIS mapping, spatial tracking, or digital data collection skills.

What We Offer

• Autonomy & Impact: The opportunity to manage and protect a critically important, large-scale conservation asset.
• Accommodation: Basic, on-site accommodation is available in our farm shearers' quarters if required (priority given to candidates based in or relocating to Geelong/Ballarat/surrounding regional areas).
• Immediate Start Available: We are keen to onboard the right candidate promptly to allow for a comprehensive handover before late winter ecological burns and spring activity begins.

If you are a motivated, experienced land management professional looking for an operational leadership role in conservation, we would love to hear from you.