About Common Ground Project

Common Ground Project is a regenerative community farm and social enterprise located in Freshwater Creek, Victoria on a mission to connect and empower the community.

As farmers and members of the local community, we recognise our role in changing the food system. We envision a more resilient and thriving regenerative farming and food ecosystem, where all people have access and are connected to land, food, culture and community.

We work to connect the local community to food and farming through these core business areas:

• Regenerative Farming - growing nutrient-rich food and working on regenerating our small pocket of land;
• Education Programs - school programs, community workshops, collaborations with other organisations and businesses across our region and volunteering days;
• Training and Employment Programs - to support people facing disadvantage in the community.
• Food Hub – connecting the local community to our regenerative produce and producers from around the region, and supporting new and emerging producers;
• Our community Cafe and Events space – using produce from the farm.

Learn more about Common Ground Project by visiting our website.

Role Description & Opportunity

The Farm Manager is responsible for the overall operations and running of our regenerative farm at Common Ground Project. Now five years old, the farm has seen tremendous growth and development, and is in a great position to continue increasing food production and sales, regenerating the land and increasing biodiversity, and welcoming the community via a range of educational programs across 2024 and beyond.

This Farm Manager role is an opportunity for someone with management experience and passion in areas including regenerative agriculture, organic farming, small plot biointensive farming and who has a keen interest in working within a wider organisation dedicated to connecting with and empowering the local community. This includes working closely with other departments at Common Ground Project and also other farmers, growers, businesses and organisations in the region.

As a community farm, we run weekly Tuesday volunteer programs, and also run workshops and school programs on a variety of food-growing related topics. Our mission is to create a vibrant and biodiverse farm, provide an example of regenerative, community driven food production and show that it is both possible and profitable. We believe that people need locally adapted models as an example of what is possible. In the bigger picture, we are exploring the possibility of having mre small, ecologically focused farms that are willing to provide for their local community.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead the overall operations of the farm, including growing & food production, repairs and maintenance, budgeting, managing and empowering staff (i.e. farm hands), liaising with customers, supporting regeneration and biodiversity across the property and working with other teams at Common Ground Project.
2. Develop seasonal crop plans and annual operational plans for the farm.
3. Lead cultivation and harvest activities, including crop specifications, preparing beds, planting, pruning, harvest, cleaning, packing and delivery.
4. Lead nursery operations, including hand-sowing seeds, maintaining seedlings, watering, rotating seeds through nursery to hardening off, ensuring optimum health before transplanting.
5. Support annual budgeting and planning for the farm.
6. Maintain and develop Standard Operating Procedures for the farm.
7. Manage pest and weed control, fertility monitoring and general field observation.
8. Supervise and train staff, volunteers and any workshop participants (as required, with support from other employees).
9. Ensure machinery and equipment is maintained and safe to use.
10. Lead irrigation planning, implementation and management.
11. Lead the fertility program on the farm, including sowing green manures, composting, chickens, worm farms and overall soil health observation and learning.
12. Support the overall regeneration and biodiversity of the property.

Key Selection Criteria

Above all, the applicant will embrace the opportunities provided as part of this role and will demonstrate the following attributes:

• Relevant experience working as a Farm Manager and undertaking the key tasks listed above.
• Experience leading a team and managing staff and/or volunteers.
• A desire to learn about local, regenerative food systems and willingness to take on board new information and ideas.
• Strong, practical knowledge of regenerative farming, organic farming or small plot biointensive farming practices.
• Passionate about building resilient food systems.
• Self-driven with the ability to work autonomously and within a small, agile team.
• Acute attention to detail, always.
• Open minded, curious and oriented to solutions.
• Able to work in both the field and office, including hard, repetitive physical work.
• Current Australian driver’s license and a clean driving record.
• Current Victorian Working With Children Check.

Values & Culture

We are an inclusive team and value diversity in all its forms. Women, LGBTQIA+ folks, anyone who identifies as Indigenous or any other racialised groups, those from ethnically diverse communities and people experiencing barriers or challenges with employment are encouraged to apply. In your role, we hope you will express yourself, inspire others and contribute to the dynamism of the Common Ground Project culture.

You will be an ambassador for our culture, and we expect you to:

• Share and embody Common Ground Project’s vision for a more resilient, fair and thriving regenerative farming and food ecosystem.
• Inspire, lead by example, be passionate about your work.
• Take responsibility for your own work and continually look for ways to improve existing approaches.
• Commit to reflection and learning, including sharing failures and uncertainties.
• Take pride in enabling others to succeed.
• Ensure the well-being of all, and take care of each other.

Conditions of Employment

• This position is offered as a Full Time position.
• The employee agrees to abide by all health and safety rules and requirements, policies and procedures of the employer that may be amended from time to time.
• This appointment is subject to: Current Victorian motor vehicle licence and Current Working with Children Check.
• Common Ground Project is an equal opportunity employer and a child safe organisation.
• The worker is required to use their own vehicle for work purposes from time to time; a kilometre allowance is provided.
• Flexibility with working hours will be required - weekend and some after-hours work is required to support farm operations.

A position description is attached.

Please email us at [email protected], using the subject line: Farm Manager - Freshwater Creek enquiry via EthicalJobs, with any questions.