Viticulture Manager, WA (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

Enrich Your Everyday

At Accolade Wines, our purpose is to enrich everyday moments through our amazing wine brands. It goes without saying  that everything we do as an organisation and as individuals is in service of fulfilling this purpose.

As one of the world’s leading wine companies, our award-winning portfolio includes loved brands such as Hardys, Grant  Burge, St Hallett, House of Arras, Petaluma, Banrock Station, Mud House, Jam Shed, Tatachilla, Brookland Valley and  many more.

The driving force behind our business is our people, their expertise, their passion and their professionalism. With over 1,400 dedicated employees in Australia, the UK, Europe, Asia, South Africa, New Zealand and North and South America, it is our teamwork that sets us apart.

Role Details

•    Reports to: Director, Grape Supply
•    Reports in: 3 direct reports

Your Key Accountabilities

•    In conjunction with the company Vineyard Manager(s), develop and implement annually a management plan for each vineyard to achieve specified wine grades and tonnages for all patches.  Explore opportunities for improvements to profitability and business process.
•    Prepare and manage vineyard capital and operating budgets, in conjunction with the company Vineyard Managers.
•    Ensure compliance with contractual agreements concerning various joint venture vineyards, leased vineyards and those that we may manage on behalf of other parties.    
•    Ensure the vineyard assets are properly controlled, protected and maintained.
•    Ensure Vineyard Managers monitor at all times vine and crop condition and carry out appropriate operations to achieve healthy productive crops of the required quality.
•    Promote an efficient, effective and up-to-date approach to viticulture through direction of staff and the provision of training and education opportunities.
•    Promote a safety and quality culture so that each site complies with HACCP, AS4801 and ISO18001 certification requirements.
•    Encourage and support managers to achieve their safety and environmental obligations
•    Ensure regular SEQ meetings are held at each site and if corrective action is required as a result, make sure this happens in a timely manner. 
•    Ensure any accidents / near misses that occur are reported and that managers are equipped with the tools and training to support and participate in any return to work plans put in place.
•    Manage all employees to achieve superior performance and maintain good employee morale.
•    As appropriate, liaise with and maintain good relations with Trade Unions which have members within our employees.
•    As part of the S&OP process, regularly review grape supply for your regions against forecast demand.  Source additional grapes or manage existing contracts to profitably balance supply against demand.
•    Assess all contracted vineyard patches at least four times per season.
•    Represent the Company in regional viticultural groups and associations as appropriate and beneficial to the Company
•    Provide to the Director of Grape Supply a monthly summary on viticultural activities in the region, including a critical analysis of operating expenses for each business unit.
•    Carry out any other tasks or responsibilities that may from time to time be requested by the Director of Grape Supply.
•    Ensure any accidents / near misses that occur are reported and that managers are equipped with the tools and training to support and participate in any return to work plans put in place.

Other Accountabilities Include

•    Manage all employees to achieve superior performance and maintain good employee morale.
•    As appropriate, liaise with and maintain good relations with Trade Unions which have members within our employees.
•    As part of the S&OP process, regularly review grape supply for your regions against forecast demand.  Source additional grapes or manage existing contracts to profitably balance supply against demand.
•    Assess all contracted vineyard patches at least four times per season.
•    Represent the Company in regional viticultural groups and associations as appropriate and beneficial to the Company
•    Provide to the Director of Grape Supply a monthly summary on viticultural activities in the region, including a critical analysis of operating expenses for each business unit.
•    Carry out any other tasks or responsibilities that may from time to time be requested by the Director of Grape Supply.

Other Accountabilities Include:

•    A rolling three-year management plan is to be prepared for each vineyard, and revised by June each year
•    Tonnages, grades and management planned for each patch to be achieved within the constraints of the operating budget
•    Actual expenditure for each business unit to be within end-of-year budget target (LE).
•    Grape supply for the vintage to be aligned with forecast demand, at the lowest possible production variance
•    Demonstrated leadership in the promotion of a safety and quality culture among employees.
•    Each vineyard site to pass any audit conducted of its quality or OHS&W system (no non-conformances recorded)
•    Management of Safegrape system

Your Knowledge and Skills

Behavioural

•    Works as effective team member, leading, guiding & inspiring others
•    Communicates well at all levels: share ideas and contributing
•    Take the initiative to problem solve, challenge & improve to deliver the agreed targets
•    Excellent planning and organisational skills
•    Ability to generate innovative solutions to work situation
•    Professional approach, demonstrating flexibility and ownership
•    Able to work well under pressure
•    Demonstrates enthusiasm and is self-motivated
•    Outstanding leadership and Management Ability

Functional

•    Demonstrates health and safety understanding and compliance
•    Understanding of Lean
•    Processes Strong Commercial Awareness
•    Managing Operational Change
•    Excellent planning and organising skills
•    Strong negotiating skills
•    Budgetary Control

Essential Qualifications

•    Cert III in Viticulture

Required Experience:

•    Minimum of 5 years practical industry experience
•    A Degree or Diploma of Viticulture or Agriculture or similar
•    Proven vineyard managerial experience is essential
•    Extensive practical and technical knowledge of viticulture 
•    Experience in vineyard operations required
•    Experience in a similar role (highly desirable)
•    Experience in vineyard development (highly desirable)
•    Computer literacy
•    Previous experience in leading a team
•    Basic financial literacy (budgeting and controlling expenses)
•    Understanding of SEQ requirements for vineyards
•    Strong understanding of winery operations and production processes

Physical and Other Requirements

•    Manual Handling
•    Travel as required
•    Working outdoors
•    Ability to walk through vineyards for several hours per day
•    Ability to drive a car for extended periods