Technical Manager (Agriculture)

Exceed HR and Recruitment; Simondium; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agriculture consulting firm in Simondium is seeking a Technical Manager specializing in horticulture. The role involves providing crucial orchard management advisory services, overseeing a technical team, and ensuring compliance with export standards. Ideal candidates will possess a degree in agriculture and bring 7-10 years of experience in the citrus export industry. This position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and quality.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years experience in citrus or broader fruit export industry.
• Deep knowledge of citrus production practices and market standards.
• Proven experience in managing or coordinating a technical team.

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory services on orchard management to producers.
• Manage the performance of the technical team.
• Ensure adherence to quality control protocols.

Skills

Irrigation management

Pest and disease control

Leadership and coaching

Export compliance

Crop protection knowledge

Technical advisory services

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, or related field

Job description

Technical Manager (Agriculture) required in Simondium.

Duties and 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.

Requirements:

• 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.