GENERAL MANAGER – CITRUS PACKHOUSE – HOEDSPRUIT

Agricruitment Limited; Hoedspruit; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

An agricultural company is seeking a dynamic General Manager to lead their operations in Hoedspruit, Limpopo. The role focuses on strategic planning, financial management, and performance optimization within the agricultural sector, particularly in citrus packing. Ideal candidates will possess a strong agricultural background, significant management experience, and excellent leadership skills to drive initiatives and ensure operational success.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a strategic and general management role.
• Proven experience in a senior management position within a packhouse or similar processing environment.
• Knowledge of the citrus industry and related export standards would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for business units and packhouse managers.
• Develop annual production plans and budgets, ensuring operations meet budget and technical parameters.
• Establish performance management systems and review the productivity of packing facilities.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Financial Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Team Development

Negotiation Skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Agriculture or Agribusiness

Job description

Job purpose:

To provide leadership and strategic direction for the business units and packhouse managers. Develop annual production plans and budgets, ensuring sound and accurate execution of operational procedures managed within budget and the technical parameters.

The General Manager will report to the Operations Executive.

Suitable candidates will need to have the following minimum qualification and relevant experience:

Key Accountability Areas Strategic Direction and Continuous Improvement:

• Development and improvement of systems ensuring the creation and implementation of a strategy designed to grow the business

• Optimal utilization of all resources, capacity and costs

• Establishing and reviewing more efficient procedures and processes

• Strategic interventions to improve financial returns to producers

• Contribute towards the development and expansion plans, programs, and budgets

• Strategic project planning

Financial Management

• Overall management of business unit budget and cost control drivers

• Ensure finance policy & procedures are complied with in all packhouses in area of responsibility

• Review monthly operational costs compared to plan, introduce measures if parameters are exceeded

Monitoring and Measuring Performance

• Establish performance management system tools to measure productivity

• Review daily, monthly and annual performance of packing facilities to ensure long-term goals and objectives are met to ensure sustainability of the company

• Overall service delivery and quality management

• Overseeing safe, efficient and productive operations

Stakeholders and Client satisfaction

• Stakeholders and client relations – important to have a strong relationship with all customers through communication and regular customer visits as well as stakeholder engagement HR Management

• Establish business unit departments and roles focusing on developing talent

• Performance management – measure and review performance with managers against set objectives quarterly and annually.

Measurement and regular feedback sessions with managers

• Implementation of strong middle to lower management structure

• Identification of future supervisors and managers, invest in training and development initiatives

• Fostering a healthy teamwork environment

• Increase staff morale and engagement

Qualification and Experience

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Agriculture, Agribusiness, or a related field will be advantageous.

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a strategic and general management role, preferably within the agricultural sector.

• Proven experience in a senior management position within a packhouse or similar processing environment.

• Knowledge of the citrus industry, including production, post-harvest processes, and export standards, will be highly beneficial.

• Demonstrated excellence in leadership, team development, and people management across diverse operational team.

Competencies and Skills

• Positive work attitude with high energy level and strong motivational skills. Able to work in a highly innovative and collaborative space.

• Strong decision maker with excellent grasp of both the short and long-term macro / micro issues of business, operations (production/ supply chain) and human relations interaction.

• Multilevel negotiating and communication ability.

• Can-do attitude and bottom-line achiever. Results driven and able to implement operationally.

• The ability to plan and execute in a structured manner is essential.

• Strong agribusiness acumen

The application deadline is 30 September 2025

START DATE: 1 DEC 2025

Email CV in WORD format: [e-mail]

Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you have not been contacted within 2 weeks.

POPIA: by applying for the position, the applicant gives permission to the company to scrutinise and process personal information shared.