Hort Innovation advances Australia’s $18.4 billion horticulture industry by investing in research and development, marketing and trade to build a prosperous and sustainable future for growers.

Our vision is for a prosperous and sustainable Australian horticulture industry built on innovation.

Our company values underpin the culture of Hort Innovation and play an important role in defining the behaviours we collectively strive for. Our company values are:

- We work as One Team

- We act with Integrity and Respect

- We Focus on the Future

- We make a Positive Difference

The Industry Service & Delivery team drives strong investment and industry insight focusing on connecting with Australian horticulture and Hort Innovation’s commitment to deliver smart investments for all Australian growers.

The Industry Service Manager builds strong relationships to keep industry stakeholders informed about their levy investments, and benefits gained from projects funded by their industry.

Part of a team overseeing a variety of industries and reporting to the Senior Industry Service Manager this key client-facing role facilitates strategic investment advisory panels and evaluation panels, disseminating advice to industry and feeding results back to Research & Development teams.

ISMs are a direct line of communication in and out of Hort Innovation for their Industries, flexible and capable of delivering a range of engagement approaches based on the needs of Industry and Hort Innovation’s strategic direction.

Roles & responsibilities

- Alongside industry, own the planning, engagement, and execution of Industry Strategic Roadmap and associated Annual Investment Plans (AIPs),



including monitoring, evaluation, and communication of investment impact.

- Oversee facilitation and implementation of the Hort Innovation advice mechanism, including the circle back loop to industry stakeholders.

- You will be an expert in developing key grower relationships to nurture a suite of industry representative grower champions to guide engagement, and provide advice, for Hort Innovation and Industry investment plans.

- Lead the engagement with the commodity Peak Industry Body (PIB), industry representative body and grower groups to build and maintain strong partnerships that enable delivery of Hort Innovation’s strategic objectives.

- Facilitate project procurement evaluation panels for assigned industries.

- Work with assigned Industries to identify opportunities for strategic cross-industry investments that will deliver broad impact and value.

- Functioning as the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for assigned Industries, you are the key point of contact for your industry, with responsibility to coordinate the appropriate Hort Innovation experts to develop solutions and deliver on our commitments to industry.

- Collaborate across the company to understand, manage,



and monitor the portfolio of assigned Industries’ investments and ensure industry participation and input is part of key decision making, especially around advice on investment priorities.

Experience:

- 5+ years' experience in the agriculture/horticultural sector preferably in a role focused on relationship management.

- Tertiary qualification in relevant field, preferably Horticulture or Agriculture.

- An inspiring relationship builder that listens to a broad range of views and drives consensus and action.

- Business acumen, including investment portfolio management skills, equipped to understand business risk and challenges and recognise opportunities for Hort Innovation’s stakeholders and levy payers.

- A proven record of accomplishment of creating sustainable change.

- Robust prioritisation and negotiation skills with a commitment to the delivery of services to stakeholders.

- Excellent project management and organisation skills.

- Resilience, initiative, clear communication, and strong interpersonal skills.

- Strategic mindset coupled with decisive problem-solving skills.

- Demonstrated ability to introduce and support contemporary and innovative adoption practices by service providers to enhance practice change.

What you'll get:

- Competitive salary

- Hybrid work environment

- Salary sacrificing

- One extra leave day between Christmas and New Year

- Seasonal vaccinations

- Ongoing professional development opportunities

- Reward and recognition program

- Wellbeing focus including free access to an Employee Assistance Program plus other tools and resources

- A highly motivated and fun team

📌 Industry Service Manager (North Sydney)
🏢 Hort Innovation
📍 North Sydney