General Manager – Cunningham Cattle Co
Location: Flexible location
Reporting To: Managing Director
About Us
Established in 2013, Cunningham Cattle Co (CCC) is the founding operating platform of Gunn Agri Partners and one of Australia's leading institutionally-owned beef businesses. Managing more than 65,000 head of cattle across five properties spanning almost one million hectares throughout Queensland, CCC is committed to sustainable livestock production, operational excellence and creating long-term value for our investors.
Our people are at the centre of everything we do. We foster a culture built on safety, integrity, accountability and continuous improvement while investing in the development of our people and the communities in which we operate.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead Cunningham Cattle Company’s operational performance and support the success of the business.
As General Manager - Cunningham Cattle Company, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across one of Australia's largest beef platforms. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will lead a team of Station Managers and a support team to deliver strong operational, financial and sustainability outcomes across the business.
Working closely with the Managing Director and broader Gunn Agri Partners team, you will oversee key operational priorities, enhance business performance and ensure objectives are achieved through effective leadership, sound commercial decision-making and a strong focus on people, safety and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Operational Excellence
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Lead the development and execution of annual business and operational plans across all stations.
- Drive operational performance, productivity and profitability while maintaining the highest standards of safety, animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental stewardship.
- Provide leadership, coaching and support to Station Managers, fostering accountability and high performance across the business.
- Oversee seasonal planning, grazing strategies, herd performance and infrastructure improvement programs.
- Lead the planning and delivery of capital improvement programs across stations, including infrastructure, water, livestock handling facilities and buildings.
- Oversee natural capital, carbon and sustainability initiatives that support productivity and environmental stewardship of the business.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, production performance and business outcomes.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and operational excellence.
Financial Performance & Commercial Management
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Lead the preparation and management of annual operating and capital budgets.
- Oversee commercial agreements, including agistment or leasing arrangements, ensuring effective contract management and strong operational outcomes.
- Monitor financial and production performance against business objectives and operational targets.
- Manage approved capital expenditure, monitoring project delivery, budget performance and reporting on outcomes.
- Maximise return on assets through sound commercial decision-making and effective resource allocation.
- Work closely with the finance team to deliver accurate forecasting, reporting and business performance analysis.
- Identify commercial risks and implement strategies to mitigate operational and financial impacts.
- Support business improvement initiatives and provide operational insights to enable sound commercial decision-making.
People Leadership & Culture
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Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing leadership team across multiple locations.
- Build capability through coaching, succession planning and leadership development.
- Champion a culture aligned with Cunningham Cattle Company's values, promoting accountability, collaboration and respect.
- Support workforce planning, talent development and organisational capability.
- Promote a strong safety culture where the wellbeing of people is a core business priority.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
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Ensure compliance with legislative requirements, workplace health and safety, environmental obligations, biosecurity requirements and animal welfare standards.
- Maintain strong governance practices across all operations.
- Provide operational reporting and updates to the Managing Director as required.
- Lead risk management and business continuity planning across all operations.
Stakeholder Engagement
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Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, industry organisations, government agencies and local communities.
- Represent Cunningham Cattle Company at industry events, forums and stakeholder meetings.
- Work collaboratively with the broader Gunn Agri Partners leadership team to achieve strategic business objectives.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
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Champion innovation through the adoption of technology, data-driven decision-making and best-practice livestock production systems.
- Drive initiatives that improve productivity, sustainability, operational efficiency and business performance.
- Encourage a culture where new ideas and continuous improvement are embraced across the organisation.
About You
You are an experienced agricultural leader with a proven track record of leading large-scale pastoral or livestock enterprises. You will bring strong strategic thinking and the ability to lead geographically dispersed operations through capable and high-performing Station Managers.
You will have:
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Demonstrated experience leading large-scale pastoral, livestock or agricultural enterprises, ideally within a corporate or institutional environment.
- Proven ability to manage business performance, budgets, capital investment and operational outcomes.
- Strong leadership capability with experience developing teams, building accountability and fostering a positive workplace culture.
- Sound understanding of beef production systems, grazing management and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Highly developed communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across teams, suppliers, industry partners and key stakeholders.
- A collaborative leadership style, strong commercial judgement and a commitment to safety, innovation and continuous improvement.
Tertiary qualifications in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Animal Science or a related discipline are desirable but not essential.
Why Join Cunningham Cattle Company?
You will have the opportunity to lead a skilled operational team across one of Australia's largest beef enterprises, delivering strong livestock production, sustainable land management and commercial outcomes.
If you are an experienced agricultural leader with a passion for people, operational excellence and continuous improvement, we invite you to apply and help drive the ongoing success of Cunningham Cattle Company.
Gunn Agri Partners was established in 2013 and provides agricultural investment and farm management services for Australian, North American and European investors. Our company adopts an industry-leading framework that integrates sustainability in the design and delivery of its strategies and a mandate to transparently report against investor’s target outcomes. Gunn Agri manages $1.2bn of assets and commitments managed by the following platforms: Gunn Agri Cattle Fund: northern Australian grass-fed cattle, row cropping and natural asset development. The operating entity established in 2015 is Cunningham Cattle Co. Pty Ltd. Wollemi Farms: investing in permanent crop assets such as macadamias, avocados, and stone fruit across the eastern seaboard of Australia. The operating entity established in 2021 is Wollemi Farms Pty Ltd. Transforming Farming: mixed farming enterprises, which includes the development of natural assets such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity. The operating entity established in 2021 is Faulkner Farming Pty Ltd. Wilga Farming (Australia): mixed farming enterprises, which includes the development of natural assets such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity. The operating entity established in 2023 is Wilga Farming (Australia) Pty Ltd. Meldora: mixed farming enterprises which includes the development of carbon sequestration and biodiversity projects.
