Senior Business Manager - Applied Research, Development & Extension

Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is responsible for planning, investing, and overseeing research, development, and extension for the grains sector in Australia. They meet the evolving needs of grain growers with a vision to be regarded as the grower’s “RD&E department.” GRDC believes it should be a valued grower asset that is open, transparent, and trusted - a true research partner who seeks to be agile and business like in their operations and improve productivity and profitability for growers.

The Senior Business Manager, Applied Research Development & Extension is a key role within the applied RD&E group of GRDC. Collaborating closely with the General Manager of the group and associate Senior Managers, you will work at the intersection of strategy, investment design, procurement, and organisational capability.

A complex role, you are connected with the GRDC Executive, GRDC business groups, and external partners. You will provide structured, evidence-based advice to ensure complex initiatives are strategically and operationally aligned, are commercially robust and importantly governance-compliant.

Your focus and responsibility will also be on task management of not only internal teams, but also externally contracted teams on strategic projects and initiatives and change processes.

The role involves:

• Strategic initiative leadership and review of investments.
• Investment design, procurement, and governance of complex investment proposals.
• Program uplift including organisational design and capability planning including reviews of programs.
• Stakeholder engagement and executive support for internal and external stakeholders.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Exceptional people leadership skills to maximise retention while ensuring performance output.
• Experience in the agricultural and an awareness of Australia’s RD&E will be seen as highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex strategic initiatives in research, government, or corporate environments.
• Commercially astute with a history of business case development and major investment proposal preparation.
• Advanced analytical capability, including economic and strategic assessment.
• Deep understanding of governance, procurement, and risk management frameworks.
• High-level stakeholder engagement skills is essential.
• Ability to distil complex information into clear executive documentation and strategic advice.
• Strong work ethic with a natural approach to work positively with a broader team.
• Tertiary qualifications in Business, management, or related discipline.

To be successful you will be strategic yet excel as a systems-oriented thinker. The roles requires you to be highly organised and able to manage multiple concurrent priorities, often extraordinarily complex. So, you will have sound judgement and discretion in complex governance environments and able to collaborative and influential at senior levels.

There is some travel as and when required and you must have a valid Australian Drivers Licence, be in a position to conduct a pre-employment Medical, be an Australian citizenship or at minimum permanent residency, and be prepared to have an attitude to get the job done which at times will require on call/out of hour’s requirement.

Why This Role

In return you will be rewarded with an excellent and dynamic work environment, with an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the future profitability of Australia’s grain industry. GRDC aim to enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers and benefit the industry and wider community.

For confidential enquiries and a copy of the Position Description, please phone David Jackson on 1300 380 701 or apply via rimfireresources.com.au.