Agribusiness Development Manager - Emerging Markets

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Travel allowances

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an Agribusiness Development Manager to identify and cultivate new business opportunities across emerging agricultural markets, with a focus on the Eastern Cape region. The role requires building relationships with farmers, cooperatives, and government agencies, and developing sustainable business models.

The position is remote-first with extensive travel within South Africa. The candidate should have a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) or related field, 8+ years

Qualifications

• Master's degree in MBA and related fields.
• 8+ years in agribusiness development, market analysis, or strategy.
• Proven ability to identify and capitalize on new opportunities.
• Strong understanding of agricultural value chains and market dynamics.
• Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in project management and financial analysis.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the Eastern Cape and potentially other regions.
• Fluency in English; local language skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate new market opportunities in the Eastern Cape and beyond.
• Develop and implement strategic business plans to penetrate and grow market share.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with farmers, cooperatives, distributors, and government officials.
• Conduct market research and feasibility studies to assess viability of new ventures.
• Negotiate and finalize partnerships, contracts, and agreements.
• Oversee implementation of agribusiness projects ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Provide training and capacity building to farmers and local partners.
• Monitor market trends, regulatory changes, and competitive activities.
• Manage project budgets and ensure financial viability of ventures.
• Report progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior management.

Skills

Market analysis

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Communication

Strategic thinking

Project management

Education

MBA

Agribusiness

Economics

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a global leader in agricultural supply chain solutions and development, focused on empowering farming communities and enhancing food security. We are seeking a results-oriented Agribusiness Development Manager to identify and cultivate new business opportunities within emerging agricultural markets, particularly in the Eastern Cape region and surrounding areas. This strategic role involves assessing market potential, building strong relationships with local farmers, cooperatives, and government agencies, and developing sustainable business models. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of agricultural value chains, market dynamics, and community development principles. This position offers a unique chance to drive impactful change and foster economic growth within the agricultural sector. The role is primarily remote, requiring extensive travel within the designated regions. This is a key strategic role for our organization, aimed at expanding our reach and positive impact. The focus will be on creating scalable and sustainable agribusiness initiatives. The candidate will work with diverse agricultural stakeholders, ensuring inclusive growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate new market opportunities for agricultural products and services in the Eastern Cape and beyond.
• Develop and implement strategic business plans to penetrate and grow market share.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including farmers, cooperatives, distributors, and government officials.
• Conduct market research and feasibility studies to assess the viability of new ventures.
• Negotiate and finalize partnerships, contracts, and agreements.
• Oversee the implementation of agribusiness projects, ensuring they align with strategic objectives and sustainability goals.
• Provide training and capacity building to farmers and local partners on market access, financial literacy, and business management.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activities, and regulatory changes.
• Manage project budgets and ensure financial viability of developed agribusinesses.
• Report regularly on progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior management.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Agriculture, Agribusiness, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in agribusiness development, market analysis, or business strategy, preferably in emerging markets.
• Proven track record of identifying and capitalizing on new business opportunities.
• Strong understanding of agricultural value chains and market dynamics.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in project management and financial analysis.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the Eastern Cape and potentially other regions.
• Fluency in English and proficiency in at least one local language relevant to the Eastern Cape is a plus.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

Benefits

Our client offers an attractive salary package, performance-based incentives, and comprehensive benefits including health insurance, a generous retirement plan, and extensive travel allowances. We support continuous professional development and offer opportunities for career advancement within a globally recognized organization. This is a remote-first position, allowing for flexibility, with significant opportunities to make a tangible impact on agricultural development in the Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape region and surrounding areas.