Climate & Plant Pathology Agronomist

SUMMARY:

A provider of specialised crop solutions to the agricultural industry is seeking a Climate and Plant Pathology Agronomist to support and train crop protection consultants across South Africa and neighbouring countries in interpreting weather station data, applying disease models, and using hyper-localized forecasts to optimize crop protection strategies. The ideal candidate will be passionate about transforming climate data, combined with in-depth crop disease and protection knowledge, into insights and actionable, field-level crop protection strategies.

POSITION INFO:

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Agronomy and Plant Pathology
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in crop protection advisory and precision agriculture, or agri-technical consulting
• Experience in Agricultural Meteorology or Environmental Science is desirable
• Strong working knowledge of plant disease cycles, crop protection products, and regional agricultural practices is essential
• Must have a practical understanding of weather station data interpretation and disease model outputs
• Excellent training, facilitation, and communication skills
• Fluency in English (Afrikaans or regional languages will be an advantage)
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be willing to travel regularly throughout South Africa and neighbouring territories

• Delivering technical training and on-site support to crop protection consultants using weather station data, disease forecasting models, and localized climate tools.
• Guiding consultants in translating real-time and forecasted climate data into actionable crop protection plans, aligned with regional disease and pest pressure.
• Interpreting disease model outputs and advising on the best crop protection timing and strategies for the forecasted period.
• Collaborating with agronomists and product specialists to align advisory outputs with current crop production cycles and pest control needs.
• Promoting the integration of climate-smart tools into standard crop protection practices.
• Supporting product adoption through regional engagement, trials, and knowledge-sharing events.
• Contributing to training content, protocols, and digital knowledge platforms.
• Staying up-to-date with the latest developments in climatic data and forecasting, plant pathology, and precision agriculture.