TECHNICAL MANAGER – HORTICULTURE / AGRONOMIST

Farm Manager SA; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Farm Manager SA is seeking a qualified agronomist to lead citrus production in a large greenfield development. The role requires five years of hands-on citrus experience, strong irrigation, fertigation and pest management skills, and the ability to translate technical recommendations into field plans.

Candidate will oversee young orchards, coordinate data-driven decisions, and manage costs while ensuring safety and compliance. Willingness to relocate to Selebi Phikwe, Botswana is essential.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Agronomy or related field.
• 100
• Five years hands-on citrus production experience.
• Experience in young orchard establishment and greenfield projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement annual agronomic and orchard production plan aligned to yield, quality, cost and targets.
• Provide practical guidance on irrigation, fertigation, nutrition, crop protection and canopy management.
• Oversee establishment and care of young citrus orchards within a large greenfield development.
• Review orchard data and records to identify risks and recommend corrective action.
• Coordinate pest and disease scouting and ensure control measures are effective and recorded.
• Monitor spray quality, chemical use, irrigation efficiency and fertilizer application.
• Coordinate harvest readiness, estimates, picking standards and production support for quality and volume.
• Maintain standard operating procedures, records and continuous improvement in production activities.

Skills

Agronomy expertise

Citrus production

Irrigation management

Fertigation

Pest management

Orchard planning

Data interpretation

Cost control

Relocation willingness

Education

Bachelor's in Agronomy

Tools

Excel

Word

Digital records systems

Job description

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Production or a closely related agricultural field.
• At least five years of substantial, hands‑on experience in commercial citrus production, including responsibility for agronomic programmes and orchard performance.
• Strong practical knowledge of citrus phenology, plant nutrition, irrigation and fertigation, pest and disease management, pruning, crop manipulation and harvest preparation.
• Experience in young-orchard establishment and developing production systems in a greenfield or expanding operation will be an advantage.
• A sound understanding of responsible chemical use, food‑safety requirements, environmental compliance and accurate production records.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Strong agronomic judgement and the ability to turn technical recommendations into clear, practical field plans.
• Good planning and coordination across irrigation, spraying, nutrition, pruning, scouting and harvesting activities.
• An analytical and practical approach to solving problems, interpreting production data and responding quickly when results differ from plan.
• Commercial awareness and disciplined use of labour, inputs, equipment and production costs.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including confident reporting to senior management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word, with the ability to use digital production and record‑keeping systems.
• A visible, hands‑on working style and willingness to spend significant time in the orchards.
• Willingness to relocate to Selebi Phikwe, Botswana

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO

• Develop and implement the annual agronomic and orchard production plan in line with yield, fruit quality, cost and operational targets.
• Provide practical guidance on irrigation, fertigation, plant nutrition, crop protection, pruning, canopy management, flowering, fruit set and crop load.
• Oversee the establishment and care of young citrus orchards within a large‑scale greenfield development.
• Review orchard data, field observations and production records to identify risks, diagnose problems and recommend timely corrective action.
• Coordinate pest and disease scouting and ensure that control measures are effective, compliant and properly recorded.
• Monitor spray quality, chemical use, irrigation efficiency, fertiliser application and other critical horticultural activities.
• Coordinate harvest readiness, crop estimates, picking standards and production support to meet quality and volume requirements.
• Maintain practical operating procedures, accurate records, quality standards and continuous improvement across production activities.
• Prepare clear, concise reports on orchard performance, risks, variances, resource requirements and corrective actions.

ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted