FARM MANAGER – MACADAMIA ENTERPRISE

Farm Manager SA; Ixopo; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Farm Manager SA is seeking an experienced agricultural leader to own macadamia production, harvesting and post-harvest operations in KwaZulu-Natal. You will craft annual operating plans and zero-based budgets tied to measurable standards, while actively managing cost per hectare, yield and productivity for commercial success.

You will lead supervisors and large labour teams, making cost-effective technical decisions and ensuring disciplined safety and reporting standards across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Degree in Agriculture or Commerce preferred.
• Experience in macadamia farming with commercial focus.
• Knowledge of fertiliser and crop protection programmes.

Responsibilities

• Take operational ownership of macadamia production, harvesting and post-harvest operations.
• Prepare detailed annual operating plans and zero-based budgets based on unit standards and planned work.
• Understand and actively manage cost per hectare, cost per kilogram, labour productivity, machine utilisation, input efficiency, yield, quality and other key commercial drivers.
• Evaluate technical decisions commercially, balancing cost and benefit.
• Continually interrogate methods to reduce cost, improve productivity, increase yield or quality, and use labour/machinery effectively.
• Lead supervisors and substantial labour teams with accountability for productivity, quality and execution.
• Analyse operational and financial performance, explain variances and provide management reporting.
• Maintain disciplined systems, records, safety standards and controls.
• Work with management to support the sugarcane enterprise when required.

Skills

Agri degree

Macadamia farming

Sugarcane exposure

Commercial mindset

Fertiliser knowledge

Excel/Access

Budgets & reporting

Education

Degree in Agriculture

Degree in Commerce

Tools

Dashboard software

Job description

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant tertiary qualification (preferably a Degree in Agriculture or Commerce)
• Strong practical macadamia production experience and the technical depth
• Exposure to sugarcane production will be a significant advantage.
• Must be intelligent, commercially minded agriculturalist
• Knowledge of fertiliser & crop-protection programmes
• Computer literate – Excel / Access, operating dashboard software
• Financial Acumen – budgets, report writing

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO

• Take operational ownership of macadamia production, harvesting and post-harvest operations.
• Prepare detailed annual operating plans andzero-based budgets based on measurable unit standards and planned work.
• Understand and actively managecost per hectare, cost per kilogram, labour productivity, machine utilisation, input efficiency, yield, quality and other key commercial drivers.
• Evaluate technical decisions commercially — recognising that the technically best solution is only the right solution when its cost and expected benefit make commercial sense.
• Continually interrogate existing methods and standards, identifying opportunities to reduce cost, improve productivity, increase yield or quality, and use labour and machinery more effectively.
• Lead supervisors and substantial labour teams with clear accountability for productivity, quality and execution.
• Analyse operational and financial performance, explain material variances and provide concise, accurate management reporting.
• Maintain disciplined systems, records, safety standards and operational controls.
• Work collaboratively within the management team and provide competent operational support to the sugarcane enterprise when required.

ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted