HVP Plantations is a successful, privately owned manager of extensive timber plantations across Victoria.

Our people are self-motivated, innovative and thrive working in a small team and a fast-paced environment. We value safety, regional communities, environmental care and sustainability. We pride ourselves in fostering an inclusive culture, one free of bias and rich in diversity. 

HVP’s Gelliondale Nursery is situated west of Yarram in Gippsland and is Australasia’s lead-ing and largest ‘state of the art’ containerised pine tree plant nursery. Within the one site it contains: seed orchards; stool plants; and a plant propagation, growing and dispatch system that is the starting point for the ongoing, sustainable cycle of growth of 163,000 ha of HVP plantation around Victoria. 

The nursery also dispatches about 10 million seedlings annually and implements a breeding program for continuous improvement in plant growth and resilience and wood quality.

The Role

Reporting to the Nursery Manager, the Biosecurity Technician is responsible for safeguarding forestry nursery systems producing Pinus radiata seedlings and seed via orchard trees through surveillance, diagnostics and rapid response to biosecurity threats.

Specialising in plant health and pest management, you will monitor, assess and control plant diseases and other threats posed by local fauna, ensuring early intervention and effective control measures across the Gelliondale Nursery. This position is located at our Gelliondale Nursery.

Key responsibilities include:

• Monitoring plant stock, including nursery, orchard and stool plants, for signs of pests, pathogens and disorders such as fungal infections, insect damage and nutrient damage
• Implementing hygiene and quarantine protocols across nursery operations
• Maintaining quarantine records related to incoming or infected plants
• Conducting routine inspections, sampling and record-keeping for biosecurity compliance
• Identifying and managing threats such as invasive species and soil-borne diseases, reporting outbreaks or unusual symptoms and assisting with containment procedures
• Monitoring the cleanliness of tools, equipment and propagation areas
• Maintaining the Biosecurity Plan for the Gelliondale site
• Leading the Giant Pine Scale programme for the Gelliondale site
• Supporting audits and ensuring compliance with standards set by agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia (NIASA) and Responsible Wood
• Training staff in biosecurity awareness and best practices
• Using Go Canvas for recording and reporting biosecurity data and issues
• Delivering biosecurity-related talking points at crew toolbox meetings
• Participating as a member of the Nursery and Seed Orchard Lead Team.

What You Will Need to Succeed

• Experience in establishing and maintaining good staff, contractor and business relationships
• Self-directed and achievement orientated
• Understanding and experience in managing plant husbandry
• Experience in collaborating and working with teams of various skills and backgrounds
• Experience in participating in incident investigation teams
• Ability to communicate clearly and confidently both verbally and in writing
• Bachelor in Horticulture or equivalent with experience in horticultural or agricultural workplaces (desirable)
• Current Australian Driver’s Licence

Benefits with HVP

On offer is an incredibly supportive, flexible and collaborative environment where we will provide you with opportunities to develop and demonstrate value along with:

• Ongoing, full-time role with competitive salary and access to an annual incentive payment programme
• Training and support
• Wellbeing benefits including a fitness subsidy
• Opportunities for further study and workplace experience in biosecurity.

Other information

• A current Australian Driver’s Licence is mandatory for this position.
• Due to the nature of the role, the successful applicant will be expected to be able to bend, lift manageable weights and traverse rough terrain on foot.
• This role is based at the Gelliondale Nursery and may require participation in field-based activities and audits.