Agriculture Manager

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

Due to an internal promotion, we are now seeking an Agriculture Manager for our Ballarat site. This role is pivotal in ensuring the reliable supply of high-quality potatoes to our factory and storage facilities. The successful candidate will drive the continuous improvement and sustainability of our agricultural operations by empowering grower suppliers, adopting innovative agronomy techniques, and promoting a culture of safety and quality throughout the process. Leadership in this role will shape operational excellence and contribute directly to our strategic priorities by fostering strong relationships within our grower network and across McCain teams.

What you'll be doing.

• Oversee and manage the daily operations for the supply and storage of potatoes, ensuring seamless integration with factory needs.
• Champion the implementation and continual improvement of Health & Safety (H&S) practices across potato storage areas.
• Enforce and develop quality systems, ensuring compliance with McCain's Food Safety Management System and relevant standards such as HACCP and GMP.
• Lead budgeting and cost management for storage operations, meeting or exceeding set targets.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators including raw material quality, yield, and energy usage.
• Implement sustainability initiatives, including energy-saving and potato quality segregation programmes.
• Cultivate effective communication and strong partnerships with grower suppliers, transport operators, internal stakeholders, and agronomic partners.
• Support and develop your team through hands-on leadership, training, and mentoring, fostering a high-performing environment.
• Actively participate in plant programmes and continuous improvement initiatives to advance McCain's vision.
• Ensure all operations align with legislative, corporate and internal compliance requirements.

What you'll need to be successful.

• Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Agriculture, or a related discipline (required).
• Minimum five years' management experience in food or agriculture industries.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of food safety systems (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and adherence to Global GAP standards.
• Proven leadership record managing people, financial resources, and operational systems.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills, able to balance multiple priorities and drive results.
• Analytical mindset with working knowledge of process improvement (Statistical Process Control, Lean, Six Sigma).
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, with developed communication and negotiation abilities.
• Approved handler certification (HSNO) preferred; commitment to compliance and continuous improvement essential.

About the team.

You'll be joining a high-performing and collaborative team that prides itself on delivering results while maintaining a supportive and enjoyable work environment. We work hard, tackle challenges together, and make sure to have fun along the way.

About McCain.

To learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters, please visit -

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.