AGRONOMIST – FM2705

Farm Manager SA; Oos-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Farm Manager SA is seeking a technically minded Agronomist to drive sustainable agricultural growth in the Sundays River Valley region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The role focuses on fertiliser programmes, water management and soil health across ~1400 ha of citrus, with budgets and performance metrics to be managed.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in Agriculture, at least 5 years of agronomy experience, and strong skills in MS Office and diagnostic software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture with a major in Horticulture, Crop Science, Agronomy or Soil Science.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in the agronomy field.
• Experience in plant selection process and development of planting and irrigation schedules, budgets and timelines.
• Proven track record of commercial farming in citrus.
• Strong computer skills, especially MS Office and diagnostic scientific software, to build fertiliser programmes and track fertiliser applications.
• Strong research, decision making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Awareness of industry trends, technology and developments.
• Listening, verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Ability to mentor subordinates and present technical matters to senior management.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for fertiliser programmes and water management on +/- 1400 ha of citrus.
• Responsible for annual budgets of above programmes.
• Provide input on farming practices, including irrigation, pruning and yield estimates.
• Develop and implement crop management strategies to optimise yield, quality and profitability.
• Analyse soil composition, fertility and health to recommend improvements and sustainable soil management.
• Develop and implement efficient irrigation systems and water conservation strategies.
• Trial and evaluate new rootstocks, varieties, soil management techniques and irrigation practices.
• Provide expert advisory services to farmers and 3rd party growers on best practices in crop production, soil management and water conservation.
• Collect and analyse data on crop yields, soil health and water usage, and prepare reports for decision-making.

Skills

MS Office

Data analysis

Critical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture with relevant major

Tools

Diagnostic software

Job description

Sundays River Valley Area, Eastern Cape Province – South Africa: Seeking a passionate, technically-minded Agronomist to join the team and drive sustainable agricultural growth in the company’s regions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, with Horticulture, Crop Science, Agronomy or Soil Science major.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in the agronomy field.
• Experience in plant selection process and the development of planting and irrigation schedules, budgets, and timelines.
• Proven track record of commercial farming in citrus.
• Strong computer skills, especially MS Office and diagnostic scientific software, to build fertiliser programmes and track fertiliser applications.
• Strong research, decision making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Awareness of industry trends, technology, and developments.
• Listening, verbal, written communication skills and presentation skills.
• Ability to work as an individual as well as in a team context.
• Be able to mentor subordinates.
• Ability to present technical subject matter to senior management, officials, farmers and other stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Responsible for fertiliser programmes and water management on +/- 1400 ha of citrus.
• Responsible for annual budgets of above programmes.
• Provide input on farming practices, including irrigation, pruning and yield estimates.
• Crop Management: Develop and implement effective crop management strategies to optimise yield, quality and profitability.
• Soil Science: Analyse soil composition, fertility, and health to recommend improvements and ensure sustainable soil management practices.
• Water Management: Develop and implement efficient irrigation systems and water conservation strategies.
• Research and Development: Trial and evaluate new rootstocks, varieties, soil management techniques and irrigation practices.
• Consultation and Advisory Services: Provide expert advice to farmers and 3rd party growers on best practices in crop production, soil management, and water conservation
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Collect and analyse data on crop yields, soil health, and water usage, and prepare reports to inform decision-making.

ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted.