Centurion: Trial Farm Manager Vegetables

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Centurion to join our team as a Trial Farm Manager Vegetables. As a key member of our farm management team, you will be responsible for overseeing all personnel working at our stations in South Africa and ensuring the successful cultivation and maintenance of crops. Your exceptional leadership skills, combined with your agricultural expertise, will enable us to achieve our goals and make significant contributions to the farming industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform team management tasks, including managing team member focus points, coaching team members, monitoring individual progress, and supporting and following up on team members during extraordinary circumstances such as long-term absences or reintegration.
• Involve yourself in or be responsible for formulating the station strategy regarding innovation, investments, and expansions.
• Prepare, draft, and present strategic plans for the station.
• Take strategic decisions related to innovation, investments, and expansions concerning the station(s).
• Prepare cost and budget overviews for the station(s).
• Manage inventory and purchasing of machinery and goods.
• Follow up monthly on costs.
• Analyze relevant data and propose measures to increase efficiency.
• Be responsible for procedures and protocols within the station.
• Gather initiatives and draft proposals for process optimization.
• Monitor, evaluate, and adjust standard work processes as necessary.
• Lead investment and change projects, encouraging employees to think tactically about future machines and changes, and contributing to implementation.
• Encourage employees to translate operational bottlenecks into improvement proposals.
• Create time and space for employees to develop improvement initiatives and integrate them into daily work.
• Be responsible for the cultivation and maintenance of crops and facilities.
• Implement trial plans provided by Breeding, Product Development, or Production departments.
• Define the sequence of activities, map, and divide plots.
• Manage day-to-day station activities, including field preparation, sowing, transplanting, nutrition, pest and disease control, crop management, general field maintenance, and crop rotation.
• Maintain equipment and greenhouses and prepare the long-term maintenance plan for the station.
• Implement safety and hygiene procedures according to law and internal procedures.
• Maintain communication with relevant stakeholders.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years relevant work experience in crop management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to supervise workers
• Demonstrated experience in project management and team leadership is essential
• Fluency in Afrikaans and English (Read, Write, Speak)
• Proficiency in organization, planning, and solving problems

Qualifications

• Relevant degree in Agriculture