Farming Field Manager

Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, ZA
**Vacancy**: Farming Field Manager
**Department**: Cofco Farming Division
**Contract**: Permanent
**Location**: Western Cape
**Minimum Requirements**:

- Preferably at least 3-5 years’ experience in a Western Cape row crop production environment
- Tertiary qualification: B. Agric or B. Com degree with focus in Agricultural Economics or Agronomy

**Experience, Knowledge and Skills**:

- 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.
- Solid administrative discipline.
- Ability to function independent
- Consolidate all seasonal plans for his/her area to construct Farming Budget and establish inputs needed.
- Conduct practical research to evaluate performance and efficiency of the different inputs utilized in each production season.
- Support Independent Contractors with information and decisions to optimize production at lowest cost for each crop produced,
- Evaluate & grow Cofco Farming hectares in the Western Cape.
- Coordination with representatives of different input suppliers
- Stock management in conjunction with Independent Contractors and Administrative Team.
- Communicate and discuss Enterprise Budgets vs Actual/Projected with 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 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:
**Competencies**:
Planning and Organising
Presenting and Communicating
Relating and Networking
Deciding and Initiating action
Delivering and meeting customer expectations
Adapting and responding to change
Coping with Pressures and setbacks
**Key Performance Areas**:
**1. Planning**:
a. Work alongside Agronomy Lead to construct crop production plans for all crops grown on units contracted in his/her area in conjunction with the Independent Contractors, and technical specialists from Input Suppliers.
b. Assist Agronomy Lead & Ag Econ Lead with compiling enterprise budgets per cultivated crop at each of his/her units.
c. Identify production challenges and evaluate new inputs and cropping methods.
d. Evaluate new areas of expansion and farmers
**2. Execution**:
a. Execute the production plans for his/her area within the set budget together with Independent Contractors.
b. Oversee that field preparations are done accurately and on time.
c. Assist Agronomy Lead with ensuring timely and accurate delivery of inputs and contracting services rendered.
d. Evaluate alternative plans and ad hoc decisions necessitated by climate or other unforeseen challenges each season to maintain efficiency.
e. Assist Agronomy Lead with timely delivery of harvested grain at designated destinations.
**3. Managing**:
a. Coordinate Independent Contractors by assisting with their day-to-day activities and decision making.
b. Visiting farming units to follow up on challenges, problems, and general progress.
c. Coordination of representatives from input suppliers.
d. On-farm stock management
e. 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.
**4. Reporting**:
a. Frequent updating and reporting on crop progress to Agronomy Lead from an operational perspective as well as projecting production outcomes based on agronomical characteristics.
b. Oversee the monthly cost-to-completion calculations for his/her areas farming units using the enterprise budget as platform for projected future costs as well as to determine possible overspending and savings.
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