Extension Officer

**Position Title**:Extension Officer

**Position Type**: Regular - Full-Time

**Position Location**: Springs

**Grade**: Grade 03

**Requisition ID**: 24331

**PURPOSE OF THE JOB**:
The Extension Officer is responsible for ensuring vegetables are contracted, planted and harvested in accordance with timelines and agreed pricing so to deliver the required volumes and quality to the production team. He/she is responsible for expanding grower bases, ensure compliance with company guidelines and provide technical support to growers.

Monitor fields on weekly basis and highlight red flags to McCain and Farmer.

Insuring growers are Global or McCain GAP compliant

**KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS**:
**Safety TRIR**
- Foster a culture that promotes a safe work environment through the development and implementation of safety plans and training
- Maintain environmental and regulatory compliance standards

**RAW Volume delivery**
- Build strong relationship with current growers and develop grower base.
- Contract the required crop volumes timeously
- Monitor crop/field to advise the farmer on corrective action.

**Delivery Cost**
- Minimize expensive buy out by ensuring contracted crop materializes.

**Yield increase**
- Ensure continuous yield improvements on the six major crops in line with targets set & agreed upon with the Veg Procurement Manager.

**Quality measurement /improvement of raw material quality**
- Monitor crop/fields regularly in order to advise and give technical support to the grower.
- Educate growers through grower information days.
- Develop relationship with local crop protection companies to collaborate and ensure corrective action
- Keep current grower base (crop specific) updated on current challenges and possible solution.***

**McCain GAP compliance**
- Inform growers off the GAP compliant requirement.
- Guide and assist grower with required information and procedure to prepare for Audit.
- Obtain GAP certificates and monitor the grower base compliance.

**REQUIREMENTS**:

- Matric / Grade 12
- Diploma/ Degree in Agriculture, Agronomy (Crop Science) at NQF level 6
- Minimum 3 years’ agricultural advisory experience

**CERTIFICATES/LICENSES**:

- BASOS & AVCASA
- Valid Driver’s License (CODE E)

**SKILLS & ABILITIES**:

- Exceptional knowledge and understanding of agricultural production systems and variables, e.g. crops, climate, disease, fertilization, irrigation, soils, etc.
- Knowledge of current and emerging agricultural technologies.
- An understanding of raw material supply chain activities and the relationship between the grower and the factory.
- Negotiation and conflict management skills.
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal, problem solving and relationship building skills.
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a flexible, fast paced and challenging operational environment.
- Strong orientation for people
- Computer literacy essential
- Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Must be competent in crop planning, scheduling and execution.

LI-SAF1
- McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger._
- McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs._
- Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the _Global Privacy Policy_

**Job Family**:Agriculture
**Division**:South Africa
**Department**:Agriculture Vegetable Procurement
**Location(s)**: ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Springs || ZA - South Africa : Eastern Cape : Port Elizabeth || ZA - South Africa : Free State : Bloemfontein || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Bapsfontein || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Bedfordview || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Bronkhorstspruit || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Johannesburg || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Katlehong || ZA - South Africa : KwaZulu-Natal : Durban || ZA - South Africa : Limpopo : Marble Hall || ZA - South Africa : Mpumalanga : Delmas || ZA - South Africa : North West : Lichtenburg || ZA - South Africa : Other : Reference job description || ZA - South Africa : Western Cape : CapeTown || ZA - South Africa : Western Cape : George

**Company**:McCain Foods (S Africa)