Your Next Employer

Our client manages a portfolio of agricultural assets across Australia. Their Hillston operations centre around Cowl Cowl Station, a large-scale irrigated property covering ~19,000ha, with roughly 10,000ha of irrigable country supporting cotton and broadacre cropping. Bordering the station is a 700ha almond orchard under the same ownership, so plant and machinery support both cropping and horticulture across the site.

The workshop is a three-bay shed with a hoist, an on-site parts store, and Bolt for maintenance tracking. Operators across both properties handle basic checks themselves and escalate to the workshop when they need to, and the team works closely through the peaks to keep the farm running well.

The Role

You will lead the day-to-day workshop across Cowl Cowl Station and the neighbouring almond orchard, reporting to the Station Manager. Most of your time is on the tools, with the balance spent on maintenance planning, parts and procurement, and workshop workflow.

The role supports a broad mix of plant across the two enterprises, from site utes, bores, pumps and lateral irrigators through to spray rigs, almond harvest gear and a tractor line that includes three new Kubotas. Workload follows the seasons: breakdown response takes priority in busy periods, and pre- and post-season programs for harvest machinery and irrigation infrastructure fill the quieter months.

An existing maintenance hand works alongside you, and once the workshop is running the way you want it, the plan is to bring in an apprentice.



The role suits a hands-on mechanic who wants to set the standard and grow the team over time.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead Workshop Operations. Prioritise breakdown response in-season and run planned servicing across farming fleet, plant, pumps, bores and irrigation equipment.
- Plan Seasonal Maintenance. Pre- and post-season maintenance programs for harvest machinery and lateral irrigators.
- Manage Parts & Procurement. Raise purchase orders, source quotes, maintain parts inventory, and support maintenance budgeting within approved spend.
- Lead the Team. Supervise the existing maintenance hand and, in time, an apprentice, while lifting first-level troubleshooting capability across operators.
- Manage Dealer Relationships. Work closely with dealerships and external service providers to escalate major work and source parts efficiently.
- Maintain Safety & Systems. Keep the workshop safe, compliant, and well-organised, and ensure records are current in Bolt and other internal systems.

What You Bring

Essential:

- Trade-qualified diesel mechanic.
- Strong experience across heavy plant, mobile equipment, agricultural machinery, or mixed fleet.
- Able to work independently, prioritise effectively, and keep machinery running through seasonal workloads.




- Comfortable supervising or mentoring others, or ready to step into that responsibility.
- Explicit communicator who can work with farm management, operators, suppliers, and dealerships.
- Current Driver's Licence.

Advantageous:

- Experience leading an apprentice or small team.
- Hydraulics experience.
- Air conditioning (automotive/plant).

Mechanics with agricultural, civil, earthmoving, transport, or mixed-fleet backgrounds are encouraged to apply. You do not need to come from almonds or cotton specifically; transferable heavy plant and workshop experience will be well regarded.

What You’ll Gain

- Package: $110k - $125k + Super + bonus (~10%) + work ute + family-suitable 3-bed house on the river (inc utilities).
- Hours: A Monday-to-Friday week with limited weekend work outside the harvest overlap.
- Progression: Start on the tools and grow into a broader leadership role as the team builds out beneath you.
- Support: Join a well-resourced business with clear systems, approved budgets, on-ground support, and backing from management when needed.
- Lifestyle: A settled on-farm lifestyle near Hillston, with the river at your doorstep.

How to Step Forward

For more information or a confidential chat, please contact Lemuel Cruz, Talent Specialist, on 0468 093 444 or Nick Marchant, Director, on 0466 333 066.

Who Are March

March offers permanent recruitment and workforce planning services tailored exclusively to Australian agribusinesses. We're about connecting top talent with great businesses - plain and simple.

📌 Lead Mechanic (Hillston)
🏢 March Talent Partners
📍 Hillston