Farm Business Development Manager

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 840,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + commission

Annual bonus

Health benefits

Travel allowance

Training budget

Strategic impact

Company car

Retirement plan

Entrepreneurial environment

Job summary

Placements24 in George, Western Cape, is seeking a dynamic Farm Business Development Manager to drive growth in agricultural ventures. This hybrid role combines strategic planning with hands-on market development, travel to meet stakeholders, and remote work for planning and reporting.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in agriculture business development, financial modeling, and stakeholder engagement, with a passion for sustainable farming practices and long-term profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (minimum requirement).
• 6+ years in business development or related roles within agriculture or allied sectors.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in building business cases and modeling.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate new market opportunities, ventures, and strategic alliances in the agricultural sector.
• Develop and implement comprehensive business development plans to drive growth.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify trends and customer needs.
• Build and maintain relationships with farmers, suppliers, distributors, investors, and government agencies.
• Negotiate contracts, partnerships, and terms of business for favorable outcomes.
• Develop financial models and business cases to support new initiatives and investments.
• Oversee launches and implementation of new agri-products, services, or projects.
• Monitor performance, track key metrics, and report to senior management.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events.
• Stay informed about agricultural policies, regulations, and economic factors affecting the industry.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Marketing

Strategic planning

Financial modeling

Negotiation

Communication

Networking

Market analysis

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Marketing/Agriculture/Economics

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Our client is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Farm Business Development Manager to drive growth and explore new opportunities for their agricultural ventures in the George, Western Cape, ZA region. This hybrid role requires a strategic thinker with a strong understanding of the agricultural market, financial principles, and business strategy. You will be responsible for identifying potential markets, developing new business initiatives, forging strategic partnerships, and optimizing existing operations for profitability. This position involves significant travel to meet with stakeholders, attend industry events, and assess potential investments, balanced with remote work for planning, analysis, and reporting. The ideal candidate possesses excellent negotiation skills, market analysis expertise, and a passion for the agricultural sector. You will play a key role in shaping the future expansion and success of our client's agricultural enterprises.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate new market opportunities, potential business ventures, and strategic alliances within the agricultural sector.
• Develop and implement comprehensive business development plans to achieve company growth objectives.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify industry trends, customer needs, and emerging technologies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including farmers, suppliers, distributors, investors, and government agencies.
• Negotiate contracts, partnership agreements, and terms of business to secure favorable outcomes.
• Develop financial models and business cases to support new initiatives and investments.
• Oversee the launch and implementation of new agricultural products, services, or projects.
• Monitor business performance, track key metrics, and provide regular reports to senior management.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events.
• Stay informed about agricultural policies, regulations, and economic factors affecting the industry.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Agriculture, Economics, or a related field.
• An MBA or advanced degree is a strong asset.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in business development, sales, marketing, or strategic planning within the agricultural industry or a related sector.
• Proven track record of identifying and successfully launching new business initiatives.
• Strong understanding of agricultural markets, value chains, and current industry challenges.
• Excellent financial acumen, including experience with financial modeling and business case development.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build and maintain strong professional networks.
• Proficiency in market analysis and strategic planning.
• Willingness to travel extensively and work a flexible schedule.
• A passion for agriculture and sustainable farming practices.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and attractive performance-based commission structure.
• Annual bonus based on business growth and successful project outcomes.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.
• Contribution towards travel and accommodation expenses.
• Generous allowance for professional development and training.
• Opportunity to shape the strategic direction of a growing agricultural business.
• Company car provided for business travel.
• Retirement savings plan with company contribution.
• A dynamic and entrepreneurial work environment.