Head of Strategic Relations (Australia)

Are you ready to influence regulatory change in states across Australia to allow dairy and beef farmers to access the most incredible technology for their farms? This is not your usual role. We’re looking for an exceptional strategist and changemaker. You’ve successfully influenced change in a governmental strategic capacity in Australia before. However, you have unfinished business. Maybe you’ve been waiting for a company that matches your ambition, or a product that’s transforming an industry. Well, timing is everything.

About Halter

Halter is one of the world’s fastest growing agritech companies, and the most transformative technology available to dairy and beef farmers. Halter is the fastest growing company in New Zealand (topping the Deloitte Fast50 index in 2024). Founded in 2016, Halter is a high-growth scale up, backed by tier one venture capital (VC) firms, including Blackbird, the largest VC in Australia. Halter has over 280,000 cows on farms throughout NZ, AUS and the US, with ~200 staff and offices in each of these markets.With Halter’s collars on cows and app, farmers virtually fence and guide their cattle through their mobile phone, as well as monitor cattle health, fertility and location. Our customers run more productive and sustainable farms and their animals are healthier with Halter.

About the role

In Australia, virtual fencing is regulated by individual states’ animal welfare legislation. Currently, some states have legislation that does not permit farmers to use high-quality virtual fencing technology - their legislation was set years before Halter existed. There is a groundswell of demand from farmers in these states to get Halter. You will work closely with state and federal governments and industry groups to influence regulatory change to permit virtual fencing in these states. You will educate around how virtual fencing can align with government priorities around productivity, animal welfare, agricultural resilience and environmental sustainability. You will partner very closely with two premier government advisory consultancy teams on our strategy and delivery. This is a rare chance to deliver meaningful change for the benefit of an industry. This role has a high degree of autonomy. You’ll report to the VP of Strategic Relations, helping to unlock Halter in Australia.

Location

Based in Melbourne with regular travel around Victoria, to NSW and South Australia. Occasional travel to customer farms in Tasmania & Queensland and to Halter’s HQ in Auckland, NZ.

Who are we looking for - these requirements are fundamental for this role. We expect applicants to demonstrate evidence of these requirements in their resume, cover letter and in interviews.

• Regulatory change - You have significant experience driving strategic change by navigating a complex regulatory landscape in Australia, preferably with a scale-up or disruptive technology company.
• Strategy Delivery & Project Leadership - You have years of experience managing and delivering complex projects and initiatives across multiple workstreams. You are strategic and also clinical at delivering by taking a hands-on, methodical approach. You have years of experience working within or partnering with professional advisory teams to achieve impactful outcomes.
• Influencer & Communicator - You’re an influential communicator and presenter. You have examples of conveying complex technical topics with clarity and confidence. You’re an exceptional listener. You have high quality written and verbal communication skills. You’re an ambassador by building rapport and trust with people naturally. You have examples of influencing senior stakeholders at a level similar to Ministers or Executives.
• Proactive & Self-Directed - You have a proven track record of working in a highly self-directed, proactive and resourceful way to deliver tangible value. You approach challenges with a “can-do” attitude. You are driven to achieve measurable outcomes. You have high emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Your ambition and growth mindset is matched by your genuine humility.

Bonus role requirements - these are not essential for you to apply.

• Familiarity with dairy or beef industries is beneficial but not essential.
• Experience representing a scale-up or disruptive and innovative technology company.

What your day could look like

• Regulatory Advocacy - Coordinate and lead discussions with senior politicians, policymakers, regulators and decision-makers to drive regulatory change in support of Halter’s technology across multiple states - you’ll do this in close partnership with premier government advisory consultancy teams. You’ll deeply understand and communicate how the Halter system works, the benefits for the industry, and the implications for regulatory considerations.
• Strategic Coordination and Delivery - Manage multiple workstreams across several states, ensuring alignment and delivery against strategic growth goals, driving progress across states to deliver key engagements and milestones in collaboration with advisers and your Strategic Relations team members. Identify and deliver on the most efficient path forward while anticipating and avoiding potential pitfalls and bureaucracy.
• Manage advisory firms - Effectively collaborate with and manage our premier government advisory consultancy teams.
• Market Positioning, Stakeholder Engagement & Storytelling - Drive awareness of Halter’s technology by engaging with farmers, industry groups and policymakers across Australia, promoting the benefits of virtual fencing and herding. Host stakeholders at the Victorian government’s research farm (Ellinbank Smartfarm), with support of Halter team members. Attend and present at industry events in dairy and beef sectors, building grassroots support. Collaborate with local and national media to increase Halter’s market presence, with the support of strategic communications advisers.
• Strategy Development - Partner with the VP of Strategic Relations and the executive team to craft and refine Halter’s growth strategy in Australia, ensuring alignment with overall company goals and market needs.

Why our team loves working at Halter

• Every now and again a company comes along that disrupts and transforms an entire industry, leaving society in a better place. Few people get the opportunity to work at companies like these. Halter is an incredible technology transforming an essential industry. We have a genuine and shared connection to our mission to make a difference in the world.
• Our product changes the lives of our customers, directly improving their livelihoods and their lifestyle. Your work matters.
• Dedicate yourself to solving real-world problems alongside an epic team in a high-growth culture. The excitement, risk and reward of a high-growth technology scale-up on the global stage. Our ideas are truly valued, we are able to move fast, and our impact is real.
• Delicious snacks and drinks are available for your daily flow.
• Healthy body, healthy mind. We’re partnered with Medibank Health Insurance to support your well-being.
• We offer 6 months of fully paid parental leave for primary caregivers, 4 weeks of fully paid secondary caregiver leave and many other parental benefits that support you and your family.
• Our personal growth is important. Halter offers an annual $1000 self-development budget to be used for anything that fuels personal growth.
• Our time to recharge is valued, we’re offered wellness leave and unlimited paid annual leave.
• Importantly, we offer an inclusive and attractive remuneration package made up of salary, benefits and an employee stock ownership plan.

Halter in Australia

Halter entered Tasmania two years ago and has rapidly expanded to now have 20% of the state’s dairy herd with Halter - a thriving customer base managed by a talented, local team. Halter recently entered Queensland, and has a growing team and customer base. In Victoria, Halter is operating on one farm: the government’s research farm (Ellinbank Smartfarm).

In Victoria, NSW, South Australia, and Western Australia Halter does not yet have customers. In these states there is a groundswell of demand for Halter across thousands of farmers. In Australia, virtual fencing is regulated by individual states’ animal welfare legislation. Currently, several of these states have legislation that does not permit farmers to use high-quality virtual fencing technology. This legislation was set years before Halter existed, and virtual fencing technology has advanced considerably in recent years. These states are now reviewing their legislation and considering changing their laws to permit virtual fencing, and we are actively engaging with governments around modernizing their legislation. For example, in October 2024, the NSW parliament released a report recommending the government change its regulations to permit virtual fencing.

About Halter

At Halter, we’re on a mission to enable farmers and graziers to run the most productive and sustainable operations. Our customers are using Halter to break free from the time-intensive constraints of conventional practices. Imagine watching 500 cattle stand up and walk calmly towards their next break? No quad bikes, no dogs, no fences. Just a group of cattle walking at their own pace. People say it looks like magic. Our customers are revolutionizing grazing with Halter. It's changing lives and transforming an industry. People join Halter to do meaningful work. By joining us you’ll be solving challenging problems within a talented team and a culture built for high performance. Our team out-think, out-work and out-care. We’re committed to delivering real change in the world - this isn’t easy, and in truth, we love that it’s hard. We’re backed to deliver on a mission that matters by Tier 1 investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, DCVC, Blackbird, Promus Ventures, Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck and Icehouse ventures.

To find out more, visit our careers website, LinkedIn & Instagram.

Join our team

Halter is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace — a place where we can each be ourselves and do the best work of our lives. Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and under-represented groups of candidates tend to only apply when they meet every requirement. If you think you have what it takes but don’t necessarily tick every requirement on this job description, please still get in touch and apply to Halter. We’d love to chat to see if you’ll be an epic fit!

If this opportunity sounds like you, please apply below by sending through your cover letter explaining why you’re excited about this role and working at Halter, along with your CV, and we’ll be in touch!

Please also feel free to check out the careers page for more information on working at Halter and don't forget to follow us on LinkedIn & Instagram.