Job Description
SENIOR FARM FIELD MANAGER - North West
My client, an international agricultural commodity trading house is looking for a Senior Farming Field Manager to join their team in the North West.
You will be responsible for consolidating all seasonal plans for the area to construct Farming Budget and establish inputs needed.
Responsibilities
- Conduct practical research to evaluate performance and efficiency of the different inputs utilized in each production season.
- Support Field Managers with information and decisions to optimize production at lowest cost for each crop produced, as well as decisions regarding potential new units.
- Coordination with representatives of different input suppliers
- Stock management in conjunction with Field Managers, Independent Contractors and Administrative Team.
- Communicate and discuss Enterprise Budgets vs Actual/Projected with Field Managers and Independent Contractors.
- Explain and discuss pricing decisions per unit based on the relevant tons derived from the budgets/crop estimates and targeted levels to optimise profitability with Field Managers and Independent Contractors.
- Report crop development and progress with scenario analysis for potential outcomes and impact on budgeted outcome for his/her area.
Achieve the above mentioned by concentrating on the following focus areas, but not limited to them:
Planning:
- Work alongside Agronomy Lead to construct crop production plans for all crops grown on units contracted in his/her area in conjunction with the Field Manager assigned to the different units, the Independent Contractors, and technical specialists from Input Suppliers.
- Assist Agronomy Lead & Ag Econ Lead with compiling enterprise budgets per cultivated crop at each of his/her units together with the Field Managers.
- Identify production challenges and evaluate new inputs and cropping methods.
- Evaluate new areas of expansion and farmers
Execution:
- Execute the production plans for his/her area within the set budget together with Field Managers and Independent Contractors.
- Oversee that field preparations are done accurately and on time.
- Assist Agronomy Lead with ensuring timely and accurate delivery of inputs and contracting services rendered.
- Evaluate alternative plans and ad hoc decisions necessitated by climate or other unforeseen challenges each season to maintain efficiency.
- Assist Agronomy Lead with timely delivery of harvested grain at designated destinations.
Managing:
- Coordinate Field Managers by assisting with their day-to-day activities and decision making.
- Visiting farming units to follow up on challenges, problems, and general progress.
- Coordination of representatives from input suppliers.
- On-farm stock management
- Assist Agronomy Lead & Ag Econ Lead with continuous management of planned enterprise budgets for crops planted in his/her area with the Field Managers, Independent Contractors.
Reporting:
- Frequent updating and reporting on crop progress to Agronomy Lead from an operational perspective as well as projecting production outcomes based on agronomical characteristics.
- Oversee the monthly cost-to-completion calculations for his/her areas farming units in conjunction with Field Managers using the enterprise budget as platform for projected future costs as well as to determine possible overspending and savings.
Required Skills
- Minimum Tertiary qualification: B.Sc. or B. Com degree with focus in Agricultural Economics or Agronomy.
- Preferably at least 5-7 years' experience in a row crop production environment. Maize, Grains and oilseeds would be advantageous
- Proven ability to construct, manage and report budgets
- Must utilize whole Farming Team in his/her area, including our Independent Contractors and Input Suppliers to reach goals, and therefore must have excellent people skills to direct team members.
- Proven knowledge of inputs associated with crop production and ability to do research to evaluate alternatives.
- BASOS and AVCASA qualifications will support application.
- Knowledge of SAFEX market to apply different instruments available to hedge tons produced.
Should you meet the required skills please respond to this advert
