Technical Manager

Exceed Human Resource Consultants; Simondium; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading human resource consultancy in South Africa seeks an experienced Orchard Management Consultant to provide advisory services to producers, ensuring best practices in irrigation, nutrition, and pest control. The role requires strong leadership and extensive knowledge of the citrus export industry. Responsibilities include managing technical teams, compliance with export standards, and advising on quality issues. Suitable candidates need a Bachelor’s Degree and 7–10 years of relevant experience. Application via email required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, or related field required.
• 7–10 years experience in citrus or broader fruit export industry.
• Deep knowledge of citrus production practices and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory services on orchard management best practices.
• Manage technical team performance through leadership and coaching.
• Ensure compliance with export standards and QC protocols.

Skills

Citrus production practices

Crop protection

Nutrition

Export compliance knowledge

Team management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture or related field

Job description

Overview

Reference: 10839 MLR | Consultant: Michelle le Roux | Job Description:

Responsibilities

• Provide orchard management advisory services to producers, including best practices in irrigation, nutrition, pruning, canopy management, pest and disease control, and harvest readiness.
• Manage the performance of the technical team through leadership, coaching, objective setting, and skills development.
• Oversee implementation of all technical programmes, ensuring consistent rollout of production, monitoring, and phytosanitary initiatives across growers.
• Compile and distribute production and industry information, including crop estimates, maturity data, technical updates, and market insights.
• Ensure adherence to QC protocols from orchard through packhouse operations, working closely with quality teams to maintain export standards.
• Oversee producer accreditation compliance across Global G.A.P., SIZA, PPECB and other relevant schemes, including audit preparation and corrective action management.
• Provide advice on claims, investigating fruit quality issues, conducting root-cause analysis, and recommending corrective actions.
• Identify new citrus cultivars and evaluate their suitability for future production and market programmes.
• Manage procurement of packaging materials, forecasting needs, negotiating with suppliers, and ensuring compliance with export specifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Production, or a related field (Honours advantageous).
• Additional training in post-harvest physiology, quality systems, or food safety management beneficial.
• 7–10 years experience in the citrus or broader fruit export industry, covering both production and post-harvest environments.
• Deep knowledge of citrus production practices, crop protection, nutrition, and maturity indexing.
• Strong understanding of export market standards, phytosanitary requirements, and cold-chain principles.
• Proven experience providing technical advisory services to growers.
• Prior involvement with export compliance, including GlobalG.A.P., SIZA, and PPECB requirements.
• Experience working with packhouses, QC teams, logistics, or export partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage or coordinate a technical team.
• Exposure to marketing programmes or procurement of packaging materials is an advantage.

How to Apply

• Email your comprehensive CV to [e-mail].
• If you are already registered, please forward your CV and the relevant reference number to the consultant with whom you are currently registered in order to avoid duplicity on our system.
• We reserve the right to only conduct interviews with candidates of choice.
• Applicants who have not received feedback within 30 days from the closing date must please accept their application as unsuccessful.