Farm Manager

Cavalli Wine Estate is seeking an experienced and passionate Farm Manager to lead all viticultural and agricultural operations on our estate, with a strong focus on regenerative farming practices and sustainability. This includes full responsibility for the vineyards, gardens, and broader farm areas, as well as the management of all related departments and staff. The role will focus on regenerative farming practices and sustainability, while ensuring seamless coordination between viticulture, landscaping, and conservation efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Farm, Vineyard & Garden Department
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire farm, including vineyards, gardens, and all agricultural areas.
• Manage and coordinate all farm staff, including vineyard and garden teams, ensuring productivity, accountability, safety, and ongoing development.
• Ensure alignment and collaboration between departments to maintain high standards across the estate.

Viticulture & Land Management

• Oversee vineyard operations, including soil health, pruning, pest and disease control, irrigation, and harvest.
• Implement and continuously refine regenerative viticulture practices (e.g., cover cropping, composting, low-input management, carbon sequestration techniques).
• Work closely with the winemaking team to align vineyard practices with wine quality objectives.
• Monitor vineyard performance through data collection and analysis; adjust practices accordingly.

 Conservation & Sustainability

• Lead the development and execution of the farm’s conservation strategy, including habitat restoration, rewilding, water conservation, and biodiversity enhancement.
• Collaborate with environmental agencies, NGOs, and stakeholders to support conservation projects.
• Develop and maintain monitoring protocols to track conservation outcomes (flora/fauna surveys, soil health metrics, etc.).
• Promote sustainability across all operations, including waste management, energy use, and resource efficiency.

Strategic Planning & Reporting

• Contribute to long-term planning for land use, vineyard expansion, garden development, and ecological goals.
• Prepare and manage annual budgets across all farm departments.
• Provide regular reports to senior management on operational performance, project outcomes, and sustainability metrics.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in vineyard or farm management, preferably within regenerative or organic systems.
• Proven knowledge of sustainable agriculture, soil health, biodiversity, and climate-adaptive farming.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple teams or departments (e.g., vineyards and gardens).
• Strong leadership, organisational, and team management skills.
• Comfortable balancing hands-on fieldwork with strategic planning.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across departments.
• Familiarity with conservation principles and environmental compliance is advantageous.
• Tertiary qualification in Viticulture, Agriculture, Environmental Science, or a related field.

Personal Attributes:

• Deep passion for sustainability, land stewardship, and regenerative agriculture.
• Strong problem-solving skills with an innovative mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable in a dynamic farming environment.
• Proactive self-starter with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities, particularly in cross-department collaboration.
• Physically fit and willing to work outdoors in varying conditions.