Managing Director

Boardroom Appointments; Noord-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an experienced leader for a senior role in the agricultural sector. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years in leadership, focusing on optimizing operational processes and fostering team development. Responsibilities include financial oversight, managing producer relations, and ensuring departmental collaboration. A strong understanding of international agricultural markets and proven leadership qualities are essential. This position offers a dynamic opportunity to align with global market trends.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years in a senior leadership role, preferably in agriculture or food production.
• Proven track record of optimizing operational processes and leading high-performance teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for producers regarding exchange rate hedging.
• Monitor and optimize revenues, margins, and costs against approved budgets.
• Oversee internal processes ensuring optimal functioning across departments.
• Develop and implement organizational strategies aligning staff with goals.
• Align the company with trends in the global pecan industry.

Skills

Leadership and interpersonal skills

Problem-solving abilities

Communication skills

Understanding of international agricultural markets

Process optimization

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in Agriculture or Business Management

Job description

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Agriculture, Business Management, or a related field (postgraduate qualifications preferred).

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years in a senior leadership role, preferably in the agricultural or food production sector.
• Proven track record of optimizing operational processes and leading high-performance teams.

Technical and Soft Skills:

• Strong understanding of international agricultural and forex markets and hedging mechanisms.
• Experience in process optimization and technological integration within a production environment.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a strategic mindset.
• Excellent communication skills to engage effectively with internal teams, producers, and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Producer Relations and Financial Oversight:

• Serve as the primary contact for producers, providing guidance on exchange rate hedging and administrative processes.
• Communicate pricing policies and market trends to producers.
• Ensure annual financial goals, including budgets and market share targets (producers and consumers), are established and approved by the Board.
• Monitor and optimize all revenues, margins, and costs against approved budgets or projections, identifying areas requiring corrective action.
• Distinguish between factors within and outside the companys control, implementing corrective measures as needed.

Operational and Process Management:

• Oversee and ensure optimal functioning of all internal processes and departments, including product processing, procurement, and marketing.
• Identify and address underperforming areas, optimizing processes for efficiency and quality.
• Ensure departmental collaboration to meet production and market demands.

Leadership and Team Development:

• Develop an agile organizational structure and align staff with company goals and strategies.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance work environment.

Strategic Alignment:

• Align the company with three- and five-year trends in the global pecan industry and market dynamics through scenario modeling.
• Develop and implement proactive actions to manage these scenarios and their expected outcomes effectively.
• Evaluate the company's capacity and geographic footprint relative to the industry and expected production growth to ensure optimal operations.
• Strengthen technological infrastructure and human resources to meet evolving market challenges.
• Build trust with stakeholders by increasing market share among producers and buyers annually, securing shareholder returns and confidence.