Dairy Operations Assistant

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action • Part-time • Victoria, Australia • USD $ 85.56k - USD $ 145.75k / year • 1w ago

This position will work in the Animal Production Sciences branch of Agriculture Victoria Research and provide practical support for a range of farming activities on the Ellinbank SmartFarm. The Ellinbank SmartFarm farm milks up to 500 Holstein high genetic merit cows, has a state-of-the-art dairy and livestock handling facilities. The purpose of this role is to milk cows on a milking roster, assist with monitoring and managing pastures, assist with feeding of pastures and supplements, monitor herd health and reproductive performance, calf rearing and contribute to dairy and farm maintenance and cleanliness. This will be achieved through the use of innovative and cutting-edge technologies that improve technical efficiency and can be demonstrated to the wider farming community.

The person in this position will work with the farm manager and provide support to deliver farm and research outcomes and liaise with the other farm, technical staff and scientists as required.

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

A middle level TAFE certificate or Associate Diploma of Applied Science or equivalent qualification.
Demonstrated experience in using computer programs and reporting in relation to farm management, pasture and animal health and welfare.
Demonstrated experience in handling livestock and sound knowledge of animal husbandry techniques, pasture agronomy methodology and pasture management techniques.
Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member, operate under limited supervision, show initiative, able to manage workloads in consultation with supervisors and other staff, able to supervise casual employees and meet deadlines.
A sound understanding of the principles of Work Health and Safety (WH&S) and the application of Animal Ethics standards.

This is casual position available for a period until 13 January 2028. The work location for this position is Ellinbank SmartFarm.

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.

Please refer to the Key Selection Criteria provided in the Position Description, including the mandatory requirements.

How to Apply:

If you are a current DEECA employee, please apply via DEECA Careers.

Applications close 11.59pm on Monday, 16th February 2026.

All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We are unable to consider email or manual applications at this time.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

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 more information visit applying for a role with us.