- Livestock Manager role across a 20,000-25,000 DSE New England aggregation.
- Drive Ultrafine Merino & Angus breeding programs with direct principal backing.
- Comfortable home, station vehicle & structured mentoring to grow into the role.

The Story
If you are an energetic, practical livestock professional looking to step up into management, this role offers an exceptional pathway. Rather than being expected to arrive with every management credential already in hand, our clients are actively searching for a driven operator with the right attitude, solid practical foundations, and the desire to be mentored and supported into becoming a fully rounded Livestock Manager over time.

Located 35 km east of Armidale in the premier Eastern Fall grazing country of the New England region, our clients run a progressive, high-performing 20,000 to 25,000 DSE sheep and cattle enterprise. The Managing Director lives on-farm but operates separate commercial interests off-property, providing the strategic framework, recipe, and high-level support to maximise enterprise performance.

This is a true partnership approach to career development. The owner is looking to invest his time, commercial insight, and support into an emerging operator so that by the time this chapter of your career evolves, you are an accomplished, well-rounded manager ready for whatever the industry holds next.

The Operation
The enterprise carries approximately 20,000 to 25,000 DSE, balanced across roughly 35% Ultrafine Merino sheep and 65% Angus breeding cattle. The operation is recognised for progressive thinking, disciplined animal selection, and supply chain leadership,



having established landmark direct-to-mill wool partnerships and forward-thinking carbon footprint initiatives.
The aggregation benefits from approximately 40% improved pastures and a 40-hectare, dam-fed centre-pivot irrigation system to boost fodder security and pasture production. Operational planning, pasture budgeting, and data-driven livestock tracking underpin daily decisions across the property.

The Role
Working in direct collaboration with the Managing Director, you will oversee day-to-day livestock husbandry while taking progressive ownership of whole-farm operations.
Key operational duties and areas of development include:

- Driving sheep and cattle programs, including mob rotations, joining, lambing, calving, animal health treatments, drenching regimes, and preparation for shearing and marketing.
- Hands-on stockmanship and low-stress animal handling in the paddock and yards.
- Executing routine pasture and farm upkeep, including systematic weed control, spray management, and ongoing fence maintenance and repairs.
- Assisting with the operation and scheduling of the 40 ha center pivot irrigation system and pasture improvement works.
- Utilising farm management software and record-keeping tools to track animal performance, pasture budgets, and operational tasks.
- Collaborating closely with the owner on annual operational planning, production targets,



and continuous enterprise improvements.

The Ideal Candidate
This role is suited either to an experienced livestock farmhand ready to make the definitive leap into management, or a capable junior manager eager to refine their skills under an encouraging, progressive mentor.
Essential attributes include:

- Solid practical experience across commercial sheep (preferably fine/ultrafine Merinos) and beef cattle operations.
- Working knowledge of, or strong aptitude for, general farm maintenance, weed spraying, and fencing repairs.
- A reliable team of working dogs suited to Recent England grazing country.
- Openness to learning, constructive feedback, and collaborative farm planning systems.
- Sound communication skills, high personal integrity, and a self-starting work ethic when operating autonomously across the farm.
- Current manual driver's licence.

The Offer
A competitive starting remuneration package is provided, with a defined scope for salary reviews as you take on the role's full responsibilities over time.
Accommodation is a comfortable station home located on-farm, supported by a dedicated station work vehicle and electricity allowance. Set within easy reach of Armidale (35 km), the property offers convenient access to regional schooling, health facilities, universities, and airline services.

Interested?
To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your livestock background and why this career development opportunity appeals to you. For a confidential discussion, please contact John Boote on 0428 245 261 or email [email protected].

📌 Livestock Manager - Ultra Fine Wool & Angus Enterprise, Armidale / New England (Hillgrove)
🏢 Drover Ag Recruitment
📍 Hillgrove