IRRIGATION SPECIALIST

United Exports; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 450 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the agricultural sector is seeking a knowledgeable Agronomist to optimize plant nutrition and irrigation across various farms in the Western Cape. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with production teams, analyze data, and ensure best practices in irrigation and nutrition management. This role requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 3-4 years of experience in the industry. If you have strong analytical skills and are bilingual in English and Afrikaans, we encourage you to apply.

Qualifications

• 3-4 years of experience with technical understanding of plant nutrition and irrigation.
• Experience with irrigation scheduling and drip irrigation systems.

Responsibilities

• Process and interpret data related to plant nutrition and irrigation.
• Conduct regular orchard visits to assess plant health and growth.
• Provide recommendations and develop nutrition programs.

Skills

Analytical skills

Detail-oriented

Teamwork

Bilingual in English and Afrikaans

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Soil Science

Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture

Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy

Job description

The successful candidate will ensure that plant nutrition and irrigation are running optimally across various farms in the Western Cape (Ceres, Worcester, Tulbagh, Wellington). This role requires knowledge of plant nutrition, water demand, soil reactions to fertilisation and irrigation, and an understanding of how irrigation systems function. The candidate will be part of the Agronomy Team and will liaise directly and regularly with on-farm production teams to ensure alignment with agronomy technical advisors.

Key Performance Outputs

1. Process, review, and interpret data related to plant nutrition and irrigation to assess system performance.
2. Review irrigation scheduling, strategies, and probe data, providing guidance for soil and substrate blueberry production.
3. Conduct regular orchard visits to assess plant health and growth, comparing findings to current nutrition and irrigation programs.
4. Provide professional recommendations and develop plant nutrition programs in collaboration with the area agronomist.
5. Collate, summarize, analyze, and present irrigation and nutrition data at prescribed intervals.
6. Verify that on-farm checks and tests related to irrigation and nutrition are being performed, and ensure general system maintenance.
7. Work closely with farm production teams and pump-house managers to optimize irrigation system performance.
8. Ensure effective and regular knowledge transfer to farm production teams.
9. Stay informed about new irrigation and fertigation technologies and innovations.

Requirements

Qualification / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Soil Science, Horticulture, Agronomy, or a related field.
• Non-negotiable: 3-4 years of experience with technical understanding of plant nutrition, irrigation scheduling (interpretation of irrigation graphs), and general knowledge of drip irrigation systems.

Functional / Technical Skills

• Analytical skills.
• Detail-oriented.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Fully bilingual in English and Afrikaans.
• Valid driver’s license.