Tissue Culture Laboratory Manager

PERMANENT

**Tissue Culture Laboratory Manager**:
**Salary**: Super + STI

Pakenham VIC

Your Employer

Driscoll's Australia is an exciting joint venture company owned by Driscoll's (USA) - the world's market leader in berries - and Costa - Australia's leading integrated grower and marketer of premium quality fresh produce. Partnering with a broad grower base across a national footprint, Driscoll's Australia supplies year-round delicious, branded berries to consumers using exclusively patented varieties developed by their joint venture partners' breeding programs.

Since their inception, they have successfully achieved significant yearly growth and market share, enabling them to become the market leader in their category. Thanks to their ongoing investment in research and varietal development, they are able to share the very best berries, leading the way in berry genetics and continually improving farming practices.

The Role

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Tissue Culture Laboratory Manager to join Driscoll's new state-of-the-art nursery in Pakenham, VIC. Their newly commissioned site has exciting growth plans, which will expand the productive area from 2ha to 12ha over 2 years and produce up to 2 million plants.

Overseeing the site's tissue culture (TC) production practices, this role will see you responsible for ensuring the efficient operations of the Tissue Culture facilities through cost-effective labour planning & scheduling that delivers maximum utilisation of labour, equipment, and other resources. Working closely with the National Nursery Manager, you play a pivotal role in the compliance aspects to both Clean Stock and Propagation Protocols.

Your responsibilities will include but not be limited to
- Manage and oversee laboratory operations ensuring strict hygiene and clean protocols are implemented and followed

Provide general supervision, management and training of laboratory staff

Review and evaluate TC plant quality production standards and identify improvement opportunities

Assist site management in the operational planning, budgeting (including labour planning) and reporting of laboratory operations

Promote high standards of safety ensuring compliance with all laboratory and company safety policies, programs and guidelines

Skills & Experience

Proactive and with strong problem-solving abilities, you will have demonstrated experience managing a tissue culture laboratory, including both practical and technical skills, and be capable of managing small to medium teams and resources. You will possess strong communication skills - both verbal and written - and excellent attention to detail.

Furthermore, you will hold strong business acumen whilst being able to engage with internal and external stakeholders, motivate a team, and further develop and nurture a positive culture within the business.

To be considered for the role, it's important you can address the following criteria
- Previous tissue culture laboratory experience, preferably in a supervision or management capacity

Undergraduate degree in Agriculture, Science or related field

Ability to work effectively and independently with limited supervision

Proficient in using Microsoft Word, Excel and inventory software

Valid driver's license and ability to travel interstate on a regular basis

Certification in Workplace Health & Safety, First Aid or related training (desirable, not essential)

**Benefits**:
Modern new facilities

Genuine opportunity for personal and professional development

Strong relationship with global R&D team

Competitive package + reward and recognition programs

Choose Agri Talent

For more information or a confidential discussion, please contact Marcela Rocha-Lima - Recruitment Consultant - on 0467 063 538.