Blueberry Production Manager

**PURPOSE OF THE ROLE**:
The production manager is responsible for managing a team of supervisors (each supervising a section) who perform a variety of duties. The role entails daily planning, organisation, supervision and administration of activities including planting, harvesting, pruning, fertigation, pest/disease management and managing staff. This person is thus responsible for the financial and physical performance of the day-to-day operations and implementing the short
- and long-term business plans of the employer.

**QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE**:
**Minimum Education/Qualification**:

- Senior certificate/grade 12;
- Certificates in all other farming activities, e.g., irrigation, scouting, plant production.

**Experience**:

- 2 years’ relevant farm production experience.
- Crop production activities, from land development to harvesting and farm maintenance.

**CORE SKILLS & COMPETENCIES**

**Functional/Technical**
- Horticultural Practices
- Technical understanding of fruit production functions
- Computer literacy: MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- Good agricultural practices and crop production.
- Basic financial management.
- Basic human resources legislation, especially those relevant to everyday operations (e.g. absenteeism, leave, health and safety, working hours).

**Leadership/Behavioural**
- Excellent communication skills; verbal and written.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills.
- Strong leadership skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong people-management skills, relationship building and interpersonal relations.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Detail and results orientated.

**Key Performance/ Success Indicators**

**Business management**
- Contribute to and implement the overall business strategic planning; develop and set plans to operationalise the BBB Blueberries overall business strategy.
- Organise, plan and prioritise work by developing specific goals and objectives to be accomplished for each section.
- Ensure the operational business risks in each section are identified early and mitigated.

**Production management**
- Implement operating methods and procedures according to standards.
- Conduct soil/leaf analysis for fertigation and pest/disease management.
- Inspect production areas to determine maturity dates, considering block targets as identified in the strategic plan.
- Ensure the maintenance of the production areas.
- Coordinate growing activities with those of engineering, equipment maintenance, technical teams and other related departments.

**Administration and finance**
- Participate in the preparation and control of annual production budgets.
- Schedule senior team leaders for daily activities.
- Record information and keep records of all documents.
- Monitor progress against budget and ensure any trends or variances are reported to the estate manager.

**Human resources management**
- Assist newly employed employees with induction and integration into the team.
- Monitor and enforce employee adherence to safety regulations, policies and procedures.
- Ensure an adequate workforce for the efficient and effective operation of the farm.
- Set performance standards in collaboration with employees and monitor performance.
- Ensure employee development and capacity.
- Direct, guide, coach, mentor and motivate employees. policies, legislation, procedures and practices.

**Asset management**
- Communicate with the estate manager on required purchases for machinery, equipment and supplies.
- Inspect equipment to ensure proper functioning.

Ensure routine maintenance and proper handling of equipment.

**Compliance**
- Ensure compliance and adherence to the industry regulations, e.g., SIZA, Global G.A.P.
- Ensure quality assurance as per the Quality Standards.
- Ensure and enforce compliance to the company’s policies, procedures and practices.

**Interpersonal relations and communication