Cultivation Manager

Mayfly Agri (Pty) Ltd; Somerset West; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Mayfly Agri (Pty) Ltd, Somerset West, seeks an experienced cultivation leader to plan and manage greenhouse and tunnel activities, oversee crop cycles from planting to harvest, and optimise capacity, resources and scheduling across operations.

You will control environmental conditions, irrigation, fertigation and climate systems, maintain infrastructure, drive safety and continuous improvement, and mentor cultivation teams while coordinating with Production, Quality Control and Maintenance.

Qualifications

• National Senior Certificate and a higher diploma or degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, Mycology or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience in agricultural or cultivation environments.
• Experience managing teams in production, farming or cultivation settings.
• Experience with controlled environments (greenhouses, tunnels, indoor farming) preferred.
• Strong understanding of plant biology, horticulture, agronomy and cultivation principles.
• Knowledge of mycology and fungal cultivation is advantageous.
• Understanding of quality standards, contamination control, SOPs and SHEQ.
• Strong analytical, planning and problem-solving skills.
• Solid computer literacy to interpret and manage operational data.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage cultivation activities across greenhouse and tunnel environments.
• Oversee crop cycles from planting through harvest readiness.
• Optimise cultivation capacity, resources and scheduling.
• Align cultivation output with production requirements.
• Manage environmental conditions to ensure optimal crop growth.
• Oversee irrigation, fertigation, climate control and monitoring systems.
• Ensure cultivation infrastructure and equipment are maintained and operate efficiently.
• Identify and mitigate environmental and infrastructure-related risks.
• Monitor crop health, yield and quality performance.
• Analyse cultivation data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Implement corrective and preventative actions to improve productivity and reduce losses.
• Support cultivation trials and innovation initiatives.
• Manage cultivation inputs including seed, media, nutrients and biological materials.
• Maintain accurate records and full traceability of crops and environmental conditions.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, SHEQ standards, hygiene, and contamination control procedures.
• Maintain audit readiness and effective reporting systems.
• Coordinate maintenance activities and manage maintenance-related risks.
• Lead, develop and motivate cultivation teams; manage workforce planning and labour utilisation.
• Drive accountability, performance and continuous development.
• Promote safety, operational discipline and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Production, Quality Control, Maintenance and Technical teams.
• Lead cultivation forecasting, scheduling and planning; contribute to budgeting and cost optimisation.
• Identify opportunities to improve yields, efficiencies and operational performance.

Skills

Team leadership

Plant biology

Horticulture

Agronomy

Cultivation systems

Quality standards

Data analysis

SOPs & SHEQ

Controlled environments

Operational data literacy

Education

National Senior Certificate

Higher Diploma in Agriculture

Degree in Agriculture / related field

Job description

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have a National Senior Certificate as well as a Higher Diploma or Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, Mycology, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years' hands-on experience in an agricultural or cultivation environment
• Proven experience managing teams within a production, farming, or cultivation environment
• Experience in controlled environments such as greenhouses, tunnels, indoor farming, or intensive agriculture will be advantageous
• Strong understanding of plant biology, horticultural, agronomy, and cultivation principles
• Knowledge of mycology and fungal cultivation systems will be advantageous
• Must have an understanding of quality standards, contamination control, SOPs, and SHEQ requirements
• Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills
• Sound computer literacy with the ability to interpret and manage operational data
• Ability to work effectively within both operational and administrative environments

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Planning and managing cultivation activities across greenhouse and tunnel environments.
• Overseeing crop cycles from planting through to harvest readiness.
• Optimising cultivation capacity, resources, and scheduling.
• Aligning cultivation output with production requirements.
• Managing environmental conditions to ensure optimal crop growth.
• Overseeing irrigation, fertigation, climate control, and environmental monitoring systems.
• Ensuring cultivation infrastructure and equipment are maintained and operating efficiently.
• Identifying and mitigating environmental and infrastructure-related risks.
• Monitoring crop health, yield, and quality performance.
• Analysing cultivation data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Implementing corrective and preventative actions to improve productivity and reduce losses.
• Supporting cultivation trials and innovation initiatives.
• Managing cultivation inputs, including seed, media, nutrients, and biological materials.
• Maintaining accurate records and full traceability of crops and environmental conditions.
• Ensuring compliance with SOPs, SHEQ standards, hygiene requirements, and contamination control procedures.
• Maintaining audit readiness and effective reporting systems.
• Coordinating preventative and corrective maintenance activities.
• Ensuring critical equipment and infrastructure remain safe, compliant, and operational.
• Managing maintenance-related risks and minimising operational downtime.
• Leading, developing, and motivating cultivation teams.
• Managing workforce planning and labour utilisation.
• Driving accountability, performance excellence, and continuous development.
• Promoting a culture of safety, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.
• Partnering with Production, Quality Control, Maintenance, and Technical teams.
• Leading cultivation forecasting, scheduling, and planning activities.
• Contributing to budgeting processes and cost optimisation initiatives.
• Identifying opportunities to improve yields, efficiencies, and operational performance.

Please note that subsequent to the screening and shortlisting process, all further communication will be entered into only with the shortlisted candidates. If you do not receive any feedback from us within 2 weeks of applying, please consider your application unsuccessful.