General Manager of Agriculture

Our client is a Namibian company with the objective to produce, grow and pack high-value agricultural crops for the international market. Their business operations are located on the banks of the Orange River that demarcates the border between South Africa and Namibia. The closest town is Ariamsvlei and Upington is a two-hour drive from the farm.They are currently looking for a suitably qualified, experienced and energetic individual to appoint as their General Manager (GM) of Agriculture.

The GM is expected to remain informed of agricultural science and innovation to mitigate risk, implement innovative practice and build a sustainable business that maximizes the return on investment.

The General Manager’s overall responsibility will include:

  • Strategic vision, planning & implementation
  • Profit and loss for the Farming Division
  • Managing a team of managers, supervisors, administrators and staff
  • Manage a labour broking workforce
  • Oversee management of all fruit production, packhouse and marketing (incl sales)
  • Irrigation management
  • Packhouse relationships (logistics, communication, quality control and reporting)
  • Conservation and biosphere protection

Key responsibilities:

  • Manage the full production value chain
  • Compile a 5-year budget and forecast
  • Prepare workforce plans and schedules
  • Actively implement and manage risk appropriately (winds, heat waves, drought, water retention etc.)
  • Manage key supply relationships (materials, sprays, assets etc.)
  • Implementing, training and upliftment programs for all levels of staff
  • Implement regenerative farming practices across the farm
  • Build a work culture that prides itself on fair, equitable and uplifting employee practices in order to become a leading employer of choice
  • Maintaining and managing maintenance and capex budget for fleet and equipment with the team
  • Ensuring alignment and quality of the marketing and sale of products produced on the farm
  • Ensuring all staff adhere to health and safety regulations – creating a safe work environment

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or equivalent
  • 10+years’ experience in large scale commercial farming particularly focused on fruit production
  • Additional courses in Business Management or Administration is recommended
  • Proven experience in managing a large team
  • A passion for sustainable practices is advantageous
  • Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills
  • The ability to make decisions in stressful environment
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build sound business relationships
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills
  • Being able to function well in an isolated environment
  • Ability to drive through changes and projects until completion
  • Must have excellent team building skills and have created highly effected teams in the past

Please ENSURE that your application includes the following:

  • a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (MS Word format), inclusive of contact and email information
  • a covering letter motivating the application
  • an indication of current and expected remuneration
  • availability
  • contactable referees

If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please accept that your application was not successful. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.