AGRI-TECHNICAL MANAGER

SUMMARY:
Stanford /Overberg area, Western Cape Province – South Africa: The role demands a high level of expertise in planning, executing, and monitoring critical farming operations to drive operational excellence and sustainable performance

POSITION INFO:
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, Crop Science, Plant Science or a related agricultural discipline. Minimum 5 years' experience in a management or senior leadership role within an agricultural, horticultural, farming or related technical environment. Strong practical experience in crop production, nutrition, irrigation and agronomic management. Proven experience in designing, managing and evaluating agricultural research and trials. Experience managing and developing technical or operational teams. Strong understanding of chemical application, pre-harvest intervals, MRLs, food safety and relevant agricultural compliance requirements. KEY COMPETENCIES REQUIRED Strong team leadership skills Analytical, data-driven and able to translate technical information into practical action. Proactive, self-motivated and passionate about continuous improvement. Strong in research, problem-solving and root-cause analysis. Able to manage multiple projects, trials and operational priorities simultaneously. A strong communicator with the ability to work effectively across departments and with external stakeholders. Quality and safety conscious. Commercially minded, with an understanding of the relationship between technical decisions, productivity, costs and profitability. Comfortable working in a fast-paced agricultural environment where decisions need to be made quickly and effectively. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO Technical Leadership & Team Development Lead, develop and motivate a high-performing technical team. Set clear performance expectations and promote accountability. Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and provide coaching, training and technical support. Develop strong 2IC capability to ensure operational continuity. Build effective working relationships between Technical, Production, HR and Compliance Crop Yield, Quality & Loss Management Set and manage annual crop yield, quality and crop-loss targets aligned with customer and business requirements. Drive agronomic strategies to maximise yield and quality while minimising crop losses. Monitor crop performance and identify opportunities for improvement. Lead root-cause analysis of recurring crop health and production issues and ensure corrective actions are implemented. Crop Protection, Nutrition & Irrigation Use scouting data, weather forecasts, seasonal knowledge and product information to develop effective spray and nutrition programmes. Ensure irrigation strategies support crop quality, yield and loss targets. Work closely with Production to identify and resolve irrigation, crop protection and nutrition challenges. Ensure chemical applications comply with safety requirements, pre-harvest intervals, MRL requirements and applicable legislation Research, Trials & Innovation Lead research and trials aimed at improving farming methods, yield and crop quality. Design and execute scientifically sound trials using appropriate controls, replication and accurate data collection. Manage multiple trials simultaneously and ensure results are analysed and reported accurately and timeously. Conduct proactive research using industry experts, consultants, laboratories, technology, AI, conferences and other relevant resources. Convert research findings into practical recommendations and improvements for the business. Data, Reporting & Compliance Ensure spray, scouting, nutrition and other technical data is accurate, complete and submitted on time. Maintain high standards of technical reporting and documentation. Drive data-based decision-making and use technical information to identify trends and opportunities. Work closely with the Compliance Manager to ensure audit, food safety, chemical safety and legislative requirements are consistently met. Stakeholder Management Build and maintain strong professional relationships with customers, contractors, suppliers and service providers. Ensure excellent communication, timely responses and delivery against agreed deadlines. Represent the company professionally and build a reputation for technical excellence and reliable service. Work collaboratively with Production, Compliance and HR to resolve challenges and continuously improve business performance ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted.