Head of Agric Technical

Location
other

Expiration date: 04 Oct 2022

Track Job Status
Receiving Applications (Open)
Shortlisting By IPC
CVs sent to Client
Shortlisting By Client
Awaiting Response from Client
Psychometric Testing
Interviews
Offer
Placement
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Job Purpose

To provide strategic, cost-effective leadership, as well as the introduction and maintenance of agricultural best practices for both the company and third-party outgrower operations.

Roles and Responsibilities

Agronomy

  • This role assumes executive responsibility for sustainable vertical and horizontal growth initiatives across the catchment, as well as driving efficiency and accountability for resource utilization in the agricultural divisions
  • Provide scientific agronomic support in the development of annual crop estimates, as well as plough out and replant programs.
  • Formulate plant protection and nutrition programmes and ensures adherence to good agronomic practices.
  • Implement strategies to enhance the productivity of the outgrower operations.
  • Develop and manage agricultural information systems for use in the setting up of crop production targets and resource utilization efficiency parameters.
  • Set and compile budgets and recommend production parameters for the Agriculture division to the Head of Agricultural Operations.
  • Determine Agricultural Information Systems that are in conformity with the company guidelines.

Water Management.

  • Lead, coordinate and manage the industry irrigation catchments (and related strategic stakeholder engagements and/or strategic business cases), including the optimization of reticulation, application, water demand and power supply through appropriate measurement, commercial contracting, control and benchmarking processes.
  • Approve and monitor irrigation and drainage policies, as well as the cost-effectiveness thereof.
  • Approve and monitor the annual company water tariffs.

Land preparation & Infrastructure

  • Approve annual land preparation activities in line with budgeted cropping program.
  • Manage and monitor third-party service providers against efficiency, cost, quality and governance parameters. Determine the agricultural mechanization strategies and plans.
  • Manage all land preparation, internal water civil infrastructure including roads through formulating and implementing machinery utilization programmes, sourcing, servicing and maintenance programmes.
  • Determine on introduction of cost effective and high yielding irrigation systems and harvesting technologies.

Outgrowers

  • Develop and implement horizontal and vertical growth initiatives geared towards the sustainable increase in third-party out grower production. This explicitly includes the staffing structure, service offering and implementation models of the department.
  • Lead and develop a strong working relationship with third-party outgrowers and assume accountability for their operational performance.
  • Sensitivity towards the socio-political environment, ensuring that the business unit recognizes and is responsive to this reality

Projects

  • Lead, design and manage company development projects - ensuring they are competitively priced, within budget and quality standard, and follow appropriate governance and accountability protocols.
  • Undertake post-implementation reviews to evaluate actual performance against project feasibilities.
  • Source development-oriented finance for new projects.

Qualifications and Experience

  • BSc degree in Agriculture/ Agricultural Engineering.
  • MSc in Agricultural Engineering an added advantage.
  • Minimum of ten years’ senior management and operational experience directly in commercial agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural projects and/or support.

Technical Competencies

  • Commercial acumen.
  • Strong mathematical, analytical and scientific aptitude.
  • Strong problem-solving abilities.
  • Strong research and organizational skills.
  • Wide business network in the agricultural sector.

Behavioural Competencies

  • Assertive.
  • Very strong sapiential influence.
  • Results and detail oriented.
  • Persistence and patience.
  • Ability to work in a highly matrixed structure and to influence others.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

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