Head of Farming Operations

iStaff (Pty) Ltd; Somerset West; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 1 000 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural company in South Africa seeks a Production Manager to lead strategic plant production and ensure alignment with commercial objectives. The ideal candidate will have 10–15 years of experience in the citrus and/or table grape industries, demonstrating strong stakeholder engagement and team leadership skills. The role includes optimizing workflows and managing production budgets.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years’ experience in citrus and/or table grape industries.
• Extensive experience in grower relations and stakeholder engagement.
• Proven experience in leading teams and managing operations.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for production and support commercial objectives.
• Oversee fruit production performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Manage production budgets and analyze performance.

Skills

Strategic planning

Data-driven decision making

Communication

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture / Business / Management

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead and set the strategic direction for production, ensuring the function supports commercial objectives (including budgeting, forecasting and marketing needs)
• Oversee fruit production performance and drive continuous improvement against local and export market quality standards
• Plan new plantings, replanting and orchard/vine development together with farm/area managers
• Optimise farming workflows, efficiency and production outcomes, and integrate innovation where relevant
• Develop and implement pest and disease control measures in line with legislative and regulatory requirements
• Maintain strong relationships with executives, production personnel, external growers, suppliers and other strategic stakeholders
• Build talent capacity and capability across all production teams
• Provide technical guidance on cultivar development and farm strategy
• Manage production budgets, analyse performance and utilise benchmarking tools to track outcomes
• Identify and evaluate new farm acquisition opportunities to support volume growth (including IRR and payback assessments)
• Maintain and update the 5‑year production, replanting and pack‑out plan (minimum twice annually)
• Prepare Capex business cases for farm projects such as netting and new developments

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture / Business / Management (postgraduate qualification advantageous)
• 10–15 years’ experience in citrus and/or table grape industries, covering both operational production and quality requirements
• Extensive experience in grower relations and stakeholder engagement
• Strong background in production forecasting and volume planning
• Proven experience in leading teams, managing operations and driving financial performance
• Proficient in relevant systems and tools

Core Competencies

• Strategic planning and commercial thinking
• Data‑driven decision making
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management capability
• Resilience, sound judgement and ability to operate under pressure
• Ability to represent and build the brand credibly
• Excellent command of English

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