Research and Development Manager

Mayfly Agri; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Mayfly Agri is seeking a senior R&D leader in South Africa to shape and drive long-term agricultural research strategy. You will oversee budgets, governance, and portfolio management across production, risk mitigation, and post-harvest, while engaging with universities, government and industry partners.

You will translate research into practical outcomes, mentor staff, and represent the company in forums to promote the macadamia sector domestically and internationally.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in an agricultural/scientific discipline (PhD advantageous).
• 8–10 years in agricultural research, applied science or programme management.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary research programmes/projects.
• Experience with research budgets, contracts and funding agreements.
• Strong stakeholder-management with universities, government and industry.
• Ability to communicate with senior researchers and technical specialists.
• Strong governance, strategic-planning and leadership capabilities.
• Ability to translate scientific research into practical industry outcomes.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement long-term R&D strategy aligned with MOI and levy objectives.
• Identify industry priorities and emerging risks.
• Prepare annual operational plans, research roadmaps, and portfolio reviews.
• Advise CEO/COO/R&D Committee/Board on strategic research matters.
• Manage the complete research portfolio across Production, Risk Mitigation, and Post-Harvest.
• Oversee project selection, contracting, implementation, monitoring, and close-out.
• Monitor milestones, budgets, risks, deliverables, and project impact.
• Recommend continuation, amendment, or termination of projects.
• Lead the R&D Committee and coordinate Sub-Committees.
• Prepare agendas, Board submissions, minutes and action registers.
• Maintain governance frameworks, policies, and QA systems.
• Ensure compliance with contracts, IP provisions and funding conditions.
• Develop and manage the annual research budget and cash flows.
• Provide financial and portfolio reports to Management and the Board.
• Develop strategic relationships with universities, research institutions, government, processors, growers, and international partners.
• Identify and secure external funding opportunities.
• Negotiate research collaborations and co-funding agreements.
• Lead translation of research into practical outputs and publish findings.
• Coordinate technical publications, project summaries, and research networking events.
• Measure adoption and impact of research outcomes.
• Lead, mentor and develop research staff; develop KPIs and conduct reviews.
• Drive a high-performance research culture and represent the organisation at forums.
• Promote SA macadamia industry interests nationally and internationally.

Skills

Strategic planning

Project management

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Governance

Leadership

Translation of research to practice

Team mentoring

Communication with execs

Education

MSc or PhD in Agriculture / Plant Science / related field

Job description

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have an M. Sc. or PhD in Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Crop Science or a related agricultural/scientific discipline, with a PhD being advantageous
• Minimum 8–10 years' relevant experience in agricultural research, applied science or research programme management
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary research programmes/projects
• Must have experience with research budgets, contracts and funding agreements
• Strong stakeholder-management capability and experience working with universities, research institutions, government and industry
• Sufficient scientific credibility to engage with senior researchers and technical specialists
• Strong management, governance and strategic-planning capabilities
• Must have the ability to translate scientific research into practical outcomes and value for industry
• Must have a valid driver's license and be willing to travel when required

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Developing and implementing the long-term R&D strategy aligned with the organisation’s strategy, MOI, and levy objectives.
• Identifying industry priorities and emerging risks.
• Preparing annual operational plans, research roadmaps, and portfolio reviews.
• Advising the CEO, COO, R&D Committee, and Board on strategic research matters.
• Managing the complete research portfolio across Production, Risk Mitigation, and Post-Harvest.
• Overseeing project selection, contracting, implementation, monitoring, and close-out.
• Monitoring milestones, budgets, risks, deliverables, and project impact.
• Recommending the continuation, amendment, or termination of projects.
• Leading the R&D Committee and coordinating all Sub-Committees.
• Preparing agendas, Board submissions, recommendations, minutes, and action registers.
• Maintaining research governance frameworks, policies, and quality assurance systems.
• Ensuring compliance with contracts, intellectual property provisions, and funding conditions.
• Developing and managing the annual research budget.
• Monitoring expenditure, forecasts, and project cash flows.
• Approving research payments within delegated authority.
• Providing financial and portfolio reports to Management and the Board.
• Developing strategic relationships with universities, research institutions, government, processors, growers, and international partners.
• Identifying and securing external funding opportunities.
• Negotiating research collaborations and co-funding agreements.
• Leading the translation of research into practical industry outputs.
• Coordinating technical publications, project summaries, field guides, study groups, MacDay sessions, and research networking events.
• Measuring the adoption and impact of research outcomes.
• Leading, mentoring, and developing research staff.
• Developing KPIs and conducting performance reviews.
• Driving a high-performance research culture.
• Representing the organisation at scientific, technical, and government forums.
• Promoting the interests of the South African macadamia industry nationally and internationally.