Regional Extension Officer

**About Dairy Australia**:
Dairy Australia is the national services body for the Australian dairy industry. Our purpose is to support the profitability and sustainability of dairy farming. We do this by providing services that collectively benefit and advance dairy farm businesses and the industry, including investment in research and innovation, learning and capability development, marketing, policy research, market insights and trade development.

***Our Vision and Values**:
At Dairy Australia, our vision is simple, _to be leaders in shaping a profitable and sustainable dairy industry_. Our passionate and talented people share this vision and make an impact each day through their commitment to our values of:

- Farmer First - Farmer needs guide our purpose
- One Team - We work together to achieve great things
- Innovative Thinking - We embrace new ideas and learning as we go
- Decisive Action - We make informed decisions and move quickly to implement

**About the Role**:
To realise our vision, it is essential we provide effective leadership and support to the dairy industry and deliver innovative, well planned and collaborative regional extension and education activities in dairy regions.

Joining our GippsDairy team, you will work closely with dairy farmers and regional networks including dairy advisors and service providers ensuring all parties are engaged in Research, Development and Extension programs and benefiting from the opportunities they deliver. This role will have a key focus on promotion and development of the Young Dairy Network, delivering extension activities centred around feedbase and animal nutrition and supporting discussion groups.

Here are some examples of where you will make an impact:
**_ Relationship Management_**
- Develop, maintain and manage key relationships with dairy farmers and internal and external stakeholders and expand existing and new delivery networks with a focus on the Young Dairy Network
- Engage and build collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders. This will include farmers and farmer networks, service providers, regional organisations, and staff across Dairy Australia and the GippsDairy team.
- Develop and maintain a good understanding of existing and emerging issues within the region and nationally
- Engage and collaborate with providers and partners

**_ Regional Delivery_**
- Identify extension opportunities to drive practice change on dairy farms, with a key focus on feedbase and animal nutrition.
- Manage or lead programs, projects and events that delivery against strategic priorities for the region, including discussion groups.and the Don Campbell Memorial Tour.
- Develop a detailed knowledge of extension activities for regional delivery ensuring extension programs, products and services for farmers and their service providers are designed and delivered effectively.

**_ Product and Service Development_**
- Present a regional perspective to contribute to the development and implementation of initiatives and projects.
- Support the development of extension plans and activities to meet regional need.
- Develop and maintain a good understanding of existing and emerging issues within the region through information networks at a regional, state and national level.

Ideally you will be degree qualified in agriculture, education & training or have demonstrated experience in working with young people and pasture management. You will have the knowledge to add value and contribute to the feedbase development program and effectively link concepts to farmer needs. Experience in delivering information and programs to individuals and groups will strongly support you in this role. Just as important is your initiative and enthusiasm for:

- Building Relationships: you thrive on interacting with multiple stakeholders, establish rapport easily and impress people with your ability to tailor your communication to their needs
- Communicating Information: you convince people, challenge ideas and appropriately articulate information to your audience with strong attention to detail
- Showing Resilience: you convey self-confidence, demonstrate composure and resolve conflicts as they arise
- Giving Support: you understand people and value individuals, you work well as part of a team
- Evaluating Problems: you examine information thoroughly, document facts and can interpret data
- Providing Leadership: you make timely informed decisions and empower others

**About your work life with us**

We aim to provide benefits that promote the overall wellbeing of our employees. In joining our team, you will be rewarded with:

- Flexible working environment - work from our Warragul office, combined with your home office, on the road visiting stakeholders, as well as connecting with your colleagues and stakeholders virtually
- Being a key member in our small supportive and high performing team of experts in their field
- A caring and innovative culture -we are open to each other’s ideas