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Environmental Advisor

McLean Farms • Australia • Added on Jun 7, 2026
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You’d be the environmental lead across McLean Farms’ Australian operations — monitoring regulatory compliance, implementing Environmental Management Plans, contributing to emissions reduction programmes, and maintaining the company’s relationships with regulators and government agencies.

Agriculture is one of the harder sectors to decarbonise, and sustainable farming here means real operational change: resource efficiency on active sites, carbon initiatives tied to land management, and ESG reporting that holds up to external scrutiny. This is in-house sustainability work in a primary production context, far from a corporate head office.

This suits an environmental professional comfortable working across field and office — someone with a compliance or environmental science background who wants to drive genuine change in agricultural operations rather than produce reports from a distance.

Job-FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The Environmental Advisor is responsible for ensuring the company’s agricultural operations remain in strict alignment with Australian environmental regulations. You will take charge of monitoring environmental performance, conducting regular site audits, and managing Environmental Management Plans (EMPs). This role is highly operational, requiring you to investigate environmental incidents and implement corrective actions swiftly to prevent recurrence. Beyond compliance, a significant mission involves driving the ESG agenda and emissions reduction programs. You will actively collaborate with the Sustainability and Project Manager to roll out initiatives that improve resource efficiency, such as water and energy management. You will also be tasked with identifying and managing grant opportunities to fund these sustainability-driven infrastructure projects.

Key learning opportunities for this job

A candidate in this position will gain deep exposure to carbon-related initiatives and GHG emissions accounting within a specialized primary production environment. Given wait times for government support, you will specifically learn the intricacies of managing grant applications and funding programs, which is a highly transferable skill in the corporate sustainability landscape. Additionally, the role provides a unique opportunity to master the intersection of biosecurity and environmental management. Working in poultry farming requires a high level of technical rigor regarding waste management and disease prevention, offering a specialized knowledge base that is distinct from traditional manufacturing or office-based ESG roles.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate should hold a tertiary degree in Environmental Science, Agriculture, or Sustainability and possess at least three years of experience in an advisory capacity. You should have a proven track record of managing permits and licenses within Australian regulatory frameworks. From a skill perspective, strong analytical capabilities are essential to translate environmental data into actionable insights for site teams. Because you will be training site staff who may not have a background in sustainability, the ability to communicate technical requirements in simple terms is vital. Attention to detail is a non-negotiable trait, particularly for maintaining compliance documentation and ESG reporting accuracy.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, highlight specific experience with Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) and your ability to work on-site in a rural or agricultural setting. Since McLean Farms emphasizes biosecurity, demonstrating an understanding of poultry industry protocols or general livestock hygiene would show exceptional cultural and professional alignment. In your cover letter, discuss how you have previously handled regulator relationships or secured government grants for environmental projects. Showing that you are comfortable with both high-level reporting and 'boots on the ground' site inspections will resonate with the proactive, value-driven culture of the company.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The sustainability focus of this role is heavily weighted toward resource efficiency and waste management. In a poultry and farming context, this likely translates to managing nutrient run-off, soil health, and water conservation. You will be the primary person ensuring that agricultural practices do not negatively impact the local ecosystem. There is also a growing focus on decarbonization. You will likely lead efforts to measure the farm's carbon footprint and implement strategies to reduce emissions, potentially through renewable energy integration or improved waste-to-energy solutions. Social governance is also key, reflecting the animal welfare and biosecurity pillars mentioned in the company's ethos.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the steepest challenges will be the geographical and biosecurity constraints inherent to the poultry industry. The strict requirement not to have birds or pigs at home is a lifestyle consideration that mirrors the high-stakes nature of biosecurity. You must manage complex compliance tasks while adhering to these rigid movement and hygiene protocols. Another challenge involves the decentralized nature of site operations. Engaging with site teams and ensuring buy-in for new sustainability metrics can be difficult in a busy farming environment. You will need to balance your time between high-level ESG strategy and the practical realities of everyday farm management and compliance risks.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day could begin with a review of environmental data from automated monitoring systems or a visit to a specific site in Pittsworth to conduct an environmental audit. You might spend the morning checking water usage levels or inspecting waste disposal areas to ensure they align with the site’s permits and ESG benchmarks. In the afternoon, the focus may shift toward stakeholder engagement or administrative reporting. This could involve drafting a grant proposal for a new emissions reduction project, coordinating with the Sustainability Manager on ESG disclosure requirements, or delivering a short training session to farm staff on updated spill response procedures.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Growth in this role is likely to come from the increasing complexity of ESG disclosure requirements in the Australian agricultural sector. As McLean Farms evolves its sustainability reporting, the Advisor could transition into a more strategic management role, overseeing broader ESG portfolios or specialized carbon sequestration projects. There is also the potential for cross-functional leadership. By proving successful in grant acquisition and regulatory compliance, you could become a key figure in regional project development. Exposure to interstate operations and various farming sites provides a broad network and a holistic view of the agricultural supply chain, which is excellent for long-term career progression.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your primary internal collaborator is the Sustainability and Project Manager, with whom you will align on long-term goals. You will also spend significant time with Site Teams and Farm Managers, acting as a technical advisor to help them implement sustainable practices on the ground. Externally, you will be the point of contact for environmental regulators and government agencies. Managing these relationships is critical for maintaining the company's social license to operate. You may also interact with industry bodies and external consultants specifically brought in for complex carbon auditing or environmental impact assessments.

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