Transition and Commercial Manager

**Company Description**:
**About Aurora Dairies**

Aurora Dairies is committed to a long-term investment in the Australian Dairy Industry and operates a portfolio of 56 dairy farms; 49 across south-eastern Australia, as well as 7 dairy farms in New Zealand.

Aurora relies on local expertise to operate and improve the productivity of its dairy farms by employing and developing great people, investing in technology, implementing innovative farm development strategies and infrastructure. Aurora’s operating culture prioritises the health and safety of its employees - inclusive of a strong work-life balance, animal welfare and seeks to positively contribute to the environment and communities in which Aurora operates.

**Job Description**:
Aurora Dairies are currently seeking a Transition and Commercial Manager to join our team. This newly created role within the organisation supports the significant recent growth, and projected growth in the future.

The role will support the Senior Management Team, reporting to the General Manager - Commercial and will work collaboratively with the operational, commercial and financial teams of the business. This role will initially supervise a team of three.

**What Aurora Dairies can offer you;**

This is an excellent career opportunity offering:

- A highly competitive salary and performance incentive.
- Work-life balance with a hybrid of working in our office based in the Melbourne CBD and from home.
- A work environment that fosters both company and personal growth and development.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program for you and your family.
- A variety of Employee Wellbeing initiatives.
- Innovative and large agriculture organisation on behalf of a global agriculture investor.

**What the role entails;**

As Aurora’s Transition and Commercial Manager, you will be working with and be supported by a highly skilled team but will be expected to manage certain processes, queries and work at a level of autonomy. You will also be expected to build a good understanding of the organisation’s goals, both short
- and long-term.

This role has a number of key focus areas, including;
- **Transition Management**
- With the investment team, coordinate operational transition management and onboarding of new acquisitions including capex programs and key commercial arrangements and contribute to the Operational Due Diligence process for new acquisitions, as required.
- Manage the onboarding of new acquisitions pre
- and post-settlement to ensure a consistent standard and approach.
- Support Regional Managers in transition of new acquisitions, particularly process and systems setup and implementation.
- **Capex Management, Procurement and Commercial**
- Leading the capex program for the Aurora Dairies, including monitoring and reporting capex expenditure and as required, sourcing and filing capex quotes.
- Coordinate procurement processes of key inputs into the business, coordinate relevant tender processes and monitor key input markets.
- With GM Operations and GM Commercial, coordinate business wide cost and efficiency programs and incorporate commercial objectives into business.
- Identify and support specific opportunities and programs to focus on cost control and reduction in cost of production.
- **Supplementary Feed and Milk Supply/Dairy Markets**
- Coordinate supplementary feed procurement activity.
- Monitor feed efficiency across the farms and review opportunities for improvement.
- Monitor milk pricing and dairy market and complete milk price comparison analysis on a quarterly basis and assist in evaluating milk supply opportunities.
- **Teamwork, **Leadership and Employee Engagement**
- Lead the integration of new people and teams into the business in acquisitions in conjunction with the project management team.
- Contribute as a key member of the Aurora Dairies business.
- Provide management of team members, ensuring delivering on business objectives and ensure key business activities and team is sufficiently resourced and supported.

**Qualifications**:
**The desired skills and experience for this opportunity are;**
- A qualified and technically proficient professional with a degree in, or comparable background/experience in Agriculture or similar.
- Experience in dairy or the agricultural sector is essential.
- A self-starter and a team player, with the ability to work independently and handle multiple concurrent objectives.
- High level of influencing, coaching and negotiating skills with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships and gain the confidence and support of stakeholders.
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Travel to regional areas and internationally with our NZ operations will be required as part of the role.
- The ability to demonstrate a strategic perspective and link organisation objectives to tangible activities, projects and outcomes.
- Ability to critically evaluate datasets and work collaboratively with ke