Remote Plant Pathology Specialist: Disease Management

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement planning

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Plant Pathology Specialist to lead remote diagnosis and disease management for agricultural operations nationwide. You will identify pathogens, develop IDM strategies, and guide farm managers and agronomists from a distance.

This role emphasizes autonomous work, strong lab skills, and ongoing learning as you stay current with disease forecasting and diagnostic techniques.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Plant Pathology, Mycology, Bacteriology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience diagnosing and managing plant diseases in agricultural settings.
• Strong knowledge of plant-pathogen interactions, disease cycles, and epidemiology.
• Proficiency in laboratory diagnostic techniques including microscopy and molecular methods (PCR, ELISA).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data.
• Superb written and verbal communication for remote consultation.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose plant diseases using visual symptoms, lab analysis, and client data.
• Develop IDM strategies including cultural controls, biocontrols, and chemicals.
• Provide expert remote consultation to farmers and agronomists on identification and control.
• Monitor disease trends and outbreaks; provide early warnings and preventative advice.
• Conduct research on pathogen biology, epidemiology, and fungicide/bactericide efficacy.
• Stay current with the latest research in plant pathology and diagnostic tech.
• Prepare technical reports, guidelines, and educational materials.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external research institutions on disease management initiatives.

Skills

Plant pathology knowledge

Remote consultation

Data analysis

Communication

Critical thinking

Education

Ph.D. or Master's in Plant Pathology

Tools

Microscopy

PCR

ELISA

Remote sensing tools

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Plant Pathology Specialist to lead remote diagnosis and disease management for agricultural operations nationwide. You will identify pathogens, develop IDM strategies, and guide farm managers and agronomists from a distance.

This role emphasizes autonomous work, strong lab skills, and ongoing learning as you stay current with disease forecasting and diagnostic techniques.