Supporting thriving, productive and sustainable communities, environments and industries, at DEECA we’re focused on creating a liveable, inclusive and sustainable Victoria with thriving natural environments where the community is at the centre of everything we do.

Technical Officer

Location: Horsham

Salary: $73,842 to $89,661 + super.

Position No: 020754

Please note: Due to Machinery of Government changes under Section 30 of the Public Administration Act (PAA), effective 1 January 2023, your employment will be with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. Corporate Services, including payroll, will be provided by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions while a process for the formal transfer of staff in impacted areas is implemented.

The Technical Officer is responsible for management of cereal, pulse and oilseed disease research experiments in the field. The incumbent will be highly organised and able to manage a range of competing tasks to successfully manage a large field based experimental program consisting of >30 field experiments.

This successful applicant will have a sound knowledge of crop agronomy and weed management and experience with the operation of a range of agricultural machinery. The position will include operation and organising maintenance of a range of modern field equipment including sprayers, seeders and harvesters to ensure field experiments are completed to specifications. This position will predominantly be outdoors and will also involve collection of data on root and foliar crop diseases within field experiments. Many of the duties will be repetitive. Independent work will be required in the field. Basic computer skills are required.

The key accountabilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Select, prepare, sow, manage and harvest multiple field trial sites relating to field crop pathology research.
• Manage crop agronomy, weeds and diseases in field experiments using fertilisers, herbicides and fungicides.
• Operate a range of modern specialist agricultural machinery, including ute and tractor mounted boom sprayers, seeders, irrigation systems and harvesters.

 Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• Tertiary training in agriculture and/or at least five years' experience sowing, managing agronomy and harvesting field experiment's is required.

 This is a fixed term position available until 30 June 2024. The work location for this position is Horsham.

 To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

 For further information please refer to the attached position description.

 Applications close at midnight on Wednesday, 29 March 2023.

 Other relevant information:

 If you are current Victorian Public Service (VPS) employee, employed on an ongoing, fixed term or casual basis you are eligible to apply for this role. People on labour hire contracts, such as agency staff and contractors, are not eligible to apply.

 A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

 DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave.

 For further information including the position description, key selection criteria and to apply visit www.careers.vic.gov.au.