Farm Operations Manager

Athera Wildsource Sdn Bhd; Pahang; Presencial; MYR 120.000 - 180.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Athera Wildsource Sdn Bhd is seeking an experienced Farm Operations Manager for a 12‑month contract to strengthen cultivation, farm productivity and reliable supply of quality produce. Based in Muadzam Shah, you will supervise farm workers and liaise with HQ to drive cost efficiency and growth.

You will lead planning for pineapple, durian and syntropic crops, manage harvest scheduling and coordinate with Sales/Branding to meet orders.

Formación

• Ten years of relevant agricultural or plantation experience in Malaysia.
• Hands-on pineapple and durian cultivation experience.
• Experience in post-harvest handling and supply coordination.
• Strong budgeting, planning and farm management skills.
• Ability to lead farm managers and field workers.

Responsabilidades

• Lead cultivation programmes for pineapple, durian and syntropic crops.
• Translate business objectives into planting, maintenance and harvesting schedules.
• Supervise the Durian Operations Farm Manager and farm workers.
• Monitor soil health, irrigation, drainage, pests and diseases with agronomists.
• Coordinate harvest planning and delivery to meet customer requirements.
• Prepare farm operating plans and budgets with Group Finance.
• Maintain production and stock records and report to HQ.
• Develop relationships with local communities and suppliers.

Conocimientos

Leadership

Budgeting

Cross-functional collaboration

English proficiency

Bahasa Malaysia proficiency

Educación

Degree in Agriculture / Agronomy / Horticulture / Plantation Management / Agribusiness

Descripción del empleo

Athera Wildsource is developing an agricultural business spanning 100 acres of pineapple, durian and syntropic cultivation, alongside the sale and distribution of fresh produce.

We are seeking an experienced, hands‑on Farm Operations Manager for a one-year contract to strengthen cultivation, farm productivity and the reliable supply of quality produce. Reporting to the HQ team, the role is accountable for farm performance, yields, crop quality, operating costs and the effectiveness of the farm team.

The position manages the existing Durian Operations Farm Manager and approximately twelve to fifteen farm workers, with direct responsibility for supervising the pineapple and syntropic activities, which have no dedicated farm managers. Based in Muadzam Shah, the role requires regular on‑site presence throughout the working week to manage cultivation, deploy workers and follow through on farm activities, with occasional travel to Kuala Lumpur for HQ meetings and coordination. Sales is overseen by the COO, working with the Sales Executive. The Farm Operations Manager collaborates with them and the branding team on produce availability, quality and fulfilment. The role receives Group support, including Finance, Procurement and HR.

The contract runs for 12 months from the agreed commencement date. Any renewal will be subject to mutual agreement, business requirements and performance. The role will focus on building practical systems and delivering measurable improvements within the contract period.

Key responsibilities

Farm operations and cultivation

• Lead the planning and execution of pineapple, durian and syntropic cultivation programmes.
• Translate business objectives into practical planting, crop maintenance, harvesting and development schedules.
• Guide and hold the existing Durian Operations Farm Manager accountable for day‑to‑day durian operations, labour deployment and farm standards; directly manage farm workers across the other cultivation activities.
• Monitor soil health, nutrition, irrigation, drainage, pests and diseases, working with agronomists and consultants where required.
• Develop syntropic operations with appropriate technical support, including crop succession, biomass management and soil regeneration.
• Maintain reliable block‑level records of planting dates, plant counts, inputs, yields, crop losses and harvest forecasts.
• Oversee farm infrastructure, machinery, equipment, safety and worker welfare.

Harvest planning and supply coordination

• Coordinate farm output with the COO and Sales Executive so harvest schedules, produce quality and available quantities support confirmed customer requirements.
• Provide the Sales Executive with timely updates on produce availability, grades, harvest dates and any supply constraints affecting customer commitments.
• Provide accurate production, packing and delivery cost information to HQ Finance and the COO to inform pricing and commercial decisions.
• Maintain a shared weekly harvest and availability forecast covering quantities, grades, harvest dates and delivery capacity, so branding and sales activity reflects what the farms can reliably supply.
• Oversee harvesting, grading, packing, storage and delivery, setting quality standards and order cut‑off times to protect freshness, minimise wastage and fulfil orders accurately and on time.
• Coordinate farm supply for farm boxes, subscriptions and other consumer channels managed by the COO and Sales Executive.
• Work with the branding team on farm information, produce quality and packaging requirements; confirm supply and operational capacity before campaigns or promotions are launched.

Financial and operational management

• Prepare farm operating plans, budgets and rolling harvest forecasts with Group Finance, providing supply information to support sales planning.
• Maintain live shared records with HQ Finance of spending against approved budgets, purchase commitments, actual yields and harvest forecasts. Update records as spending is incurred or committed and yields are recorded or revised; promptly flag budget variances, cost overruns and yield shortfalls.
• Coordinate purchasing requirements with Group Procurement and ensure inputs are ordered and used efficiently.
• Maintain accurate harvest, stock, dispatch, wastage and return records, and share these with HQ Finance and the Sales Executive to support invoicing and reconciliation.
• Report weekly to the HQ team on farm performance, actual and forecast yields, crop quality, fulfilment, wastage, spending and cash requirements, highlighting corrective actions and decisions required.

People and partnerships

• Lead and develop the existing Durian Operations Farm Manager and farm workers, setting clear responsibilities and measurable operational targets. Work collaboratively with the Sales Executive and branding team through regular coordination meetings to resolve supply, order and delivery issues.
• Coordinate contractors, consultants, suppliers and logistics partners.
• Work within budgets and authority approved by the HQ team, supported by Group Finance, Procurement and HR, while retaining responsibility for operational execution and results.
• Build constructive relationships with local communities, growers and relevant agricultural agencies.

Priorities during the one year contract

First 30 days: Review crop condition, workforce, farm costs, harvest forecasts and logistics; agree an operating baseline, priorities and measurable targets with the HQ team.

By 90 days: Establish weekly harvest and sales coordination, crop and stock records, grading and packing standards, a delivery process, a weekly report to the HQ team and live budget spending and yield records shared with HQ Finance.

By the end of the contract: Demonstrate progress against agreed yield, quality, farm cost, wastage and supply targets; document operating procedures and provide a clear plan and handover for the next phase.

Requirements

• At least ten years of relevant agricultural or plantation experience in Malaysia, including substantial management responsibility.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience in pineapple and durian cultivation. Practical experience in syntropic cultivation is preferred; willingness to work with technical specialists to develop these operations is essential.
• Experience in post‑harvest handling, grading, packing and coordination of fresh produce supply and delivery.
• Ability to collaborate with sales and branding teams, translating customer requirements into practical harvest and supply plans.
• Experience managing farm managers and field workers, coordinating contractors and collaborating with sales and branding teams.
• Ability to prepare practical budgets, interpret operating results and maintain accurate production, spending and stock records.
• Strong leadership, initiative and problem‑solving skills, with the willingness to work directly with the ground team.
• Effective communication in Bahasa Malaysia and English.
• Willingness to be based in Muadzam Shah and maintain regular on‑site presence throughout the working week, with occasional travel to Kuala Lumpur for HQ meetings and coordination. Availability during critical planting and harvest periods and operational issues is essential.
• A qualification in agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, plantation management or agribusiness is preferred; substantial relevant practical experience will also be considered.

How success will be measured

Targets will be agreed against the condition and maturity of each operation, covering:

• Delivery of planting, maintenance and harvest programmes.
• Crop survival, saleable yield, quality and forecast accuracy.
• Production cost control and labour productivity.
• Control of farm, packing and delivery costs against approved budgets.
• Reduced spoilage and returns, accurate orders and reliable delivery against agreed commitments.
• Timely and accurate operational records, weekly HQ reporting and live spending and yield updates to HQ Finance.