PRODUCTION & GROWER DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – CITRUS – EASTERN CAPE

Agricruitment Limited; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Agricruitment Limited seeks a seasoned farming leader to oversee citrus production across three company-owned operations, including 41 ha in Piketberg and 120 ha in Sundays River Valley. You will drive crop planning, irrigation, nutrition, and harvest timing while maintaining export-grade quality and cost control.

You will mentor Farm Managers, develop technical capabilities, ensure compliance with food safety and MRL standards, and build strong grower relationships within a regional network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy, or related discipline.
• 3–5 years’ experience in commercial citrus farming, with leadership on multiple farms.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production of 3 company-owned farms: 41 ha in Piketberg and 120 ha in Sundays River Valley.
• Set annual production plans including crop cycles, irrigation, nutrition, pest/disease management, pruning, harvest timing.

Skills

Citrus farming

Farm leadership

Grower development

Pest & disease management

Export readiness

Education

Bachelors in Agriculture

Diploma in Agriculture

Tools

Farm management systems

MS Office

Job description

CANDIDATE MUST B BASED IN PORT ELIZABETH OR SUNDAYS RIVER VALLEY

SCOPE:

161 hectares under company ownership across three farms, plus grower network of approximately 10–15 external farmers supplying fruit to the company

JOB PURPOSE:

This is fundamentally a farming leadership role. The primary mandate is to lead the production of the company’s own citrus farming operations across 161 hectares in two South African regions, ensuring consistent yields, top-tier fruit quality, and full compliance with export market standards.

From that established farming credibility, the role extends into grower development: advising and supporting a network of external growers whose fruit is procured by the company. The logic of the role is that credibility earned as a farmer creates the trust that secures grower loyalty. This is not a fruit-buying role with agronomic knowledge attached — it is an agronomic leadership role from which strong grower relationships naturally follow.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Farming Operations (Primary Focus)

• Lead the day-to-day production of the company’s three company-owned farms: 41 ha in Piketberg (Western Cape) and 120 ha in Sundays River Valley (Eastern Cape) across two separate farms.
• Set the annual production plan for each farm: crop cycles, irrigation, nutrition, pest and disease management, pruning and thinning schedules, and harvest timing.
• Monitor crop development, quality parameters, and yields through the season; implement corrective actions where required.
• Ensure all farming decisions are optimized against the requirements of the company’s target export markets.
• Maintain accurate production, cost, and farm management records across all three farms.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and hold accountable three Farm Managers (one per farm).
• Set clear operational and quality targets for each Farm Manager and review performance regularly.
• Build technical capability across the Farm Managers and general workers through coaching, in-field mentoring, and structured training.
• Ensure safe, productive, and ethically compliant working environments across all farms.

Grower Development & Fruit Procurement

• Build and maintain trusted advisory relationships with approximately 10–15 external growers whose fruit is procured by the company
• Visit each grower on a scheduled cadence during the season to assess orchard condition, harvest readiness, and quality parameters.
• Verify grower certifications (GlobalG.A.P., SIZA, and other required standards) are current and in good standing.
• Monitor and review grower spray programs to ensure compliance with the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of all target export markets.
• Provide technical guidance to growers on crop protection, harvest timing, and orchard management practices.
• Advise growers on harvest decisions — which fruit should be picked and packed, which sorted, and which left in the field — based on quality standards and market requirements.
• Communicate market and program requirements clearly to growers so their fruit meets the company’s commercial commitments.

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure full compliance across all company farming operations and grower supply with food safety, quality assurance, MRL, environmental, and health & safety standards.
• Coordinate audits and inspections; ensure corrective actions are implemented promptly and permanently.

Cross-functional Coordination

• Coordinate closely with the Packing Manager to align harvest timing with packhouse schedules across all sites.
• Supply timely and accurate information to the commercial team on quality, size distribution, and yield forecasts from both company farms and grower supply.
• Work with Quality Assurance and Logistics teams to ensure integrated flow from field to customer.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS)

• Yield per hectare on company farms vs. regional benchmarks.
• Fruit quality metrics: percentage of Class 1 export-quality fruit produced across company farms and grower supply.
• MRL compliance rate across grower network (target: 100%).
• On‑time harvest execution against packing schedules.
• Grower retention rate season-over-season.
• New grower onboarding: number and volume of new supplier relationships secured.
• Cost per hectare and cost per carton produced (company farms).

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in commercial citrus (or comparable perennial fruit) farming, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role over multiple farms or a large single operation.
• Demonstrated track record managing farming operations across multiple sites, ideally in different regions.
• Strong technical knowledge of citrus production, integrated pest management, MRL requirements, and export market quality standards.
• Prior experience working with or advising external growers is an advantage.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Deep, hands‑on knowledge of citrus (or comparable perennial fruit) production.
• Ability to earn credibility and trust with experienced growers through technical expertise and practical judgment.
• Strong planning, organization, and decision‑making skills under pressure.
• Leadership and coaching skills to develop Farm Managers and their teams.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Comfortable with regular travel between the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret production, quality, and financial data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and farm management systems.