Senior Agricultural Drone Operations Lead

Syngenta South Africa; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental

Retirement savings plan

Annual leave and sick days

Professional development allowance

Company vehicle allowance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Syngenta South Africa is seeking an Agricultural Drone Operations Manager to lead drone-based agricultural services in the Eastern Cape. You will plan, execute, and optimize drone operations, coordinate field data, and ensure compliance with aviation regulations while delivering insights to farmers.

You will work with agronomists, data scientists, and technicians to integrate drone data into our precision agriculture platform, enhancing decision-making and sustainable farming practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in drone operations within an agricultural context.
• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science, Agronomy or Engineering/Remote Sensing.
• Experience leading drone teams and delivering data-driven field services.
• Proficient in GIS and data analytics.
• Knowledge of SACAA drone regulations and permitting processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop drone flight plans for crop scouting, health assessment, and variable rate application across diverse farm sizes.
• Lead a team of licensed drone pilots, ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Oversee data acquisition, processing, and integration with agronomic models to generate precise field recommendations.
• Collaborate with agronomists to translate aerial insights into actionable agronomic advice for growers.
• Maintain and troubleshoot drone hardware, software, and sensor payloads, coordinating with vendors for upgrades and repairs.
• Monitor and report KPIs such as flight coverage, data accuracy, and client satisfaction.
• Lead client workshops and training sessions on interpreting drone-derived analytics.
• Stay updated on emerging drone technologies, regulations, and best practices within the South African aviation landscape.

Skills

Drone operations

Precision agriculture

Project management

Communication

GIS analytics

Team leadership

SACAA regulations

Education

Bachelors in Agricultural Science

Agronomy

Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical)

Remote Sensing

Tools

GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS)

Job description

Syngenta South Africa is seeking an Agricultural Drone Operations Manager to lead drone-based agricultural services in the Eastern Cape. You will plan, execute, and optimize drone operations, coordinate field data, and ensure compliance with aviation regulations while delivering insights to farmers.

You will work with agronomists, data scientists, and technicians to integrate drone data into our precision agriculture platform, enhancing decision-making and sustainable farming practices.