Manager: Grower Programmes

The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) is South Africa's only specialist agricultural bank established in 1912, the bank's sole objective is to serve South African commercial and emerging farmers and bring specially designed financial services within their reach. These services enable farmers to finance land, equipment, improve assets and obtain production credit. The Land Bank provides financial services that have moved with the times and continues to provide services to agri-business and constantly reviews its offerings to ensure that they match the needs of an industry. As change has swept across the sector in South Africa the socio-economic makeup of agriculture has altered, bringing new entrants from historically disadvantaged backgrounds on to the land, these new farmers, facing the challenges of establishing sustainable agri-businesses across the agricultural value chain, Land Bank has been a commercial lifeline offering appropriately designed financial products that facilitate personal and commercial viability in a sector that is vital to the sustainability of South Africa and its people.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To provide support to farmers beyond financing, through the implementation of grower programmes aimed at increasing the chances of sustainable success of the Bank's new and existing clients through partnership programmes.

1. Grower Programme Development and Implementation

• Develops Grower Programmes for farmers, within the ambit of partnership programmes; for specified commodities.
• Establishes relationships with off-takers and leverages their expertise and the market networks to support the growth and success of farmers.
• Collaborate with off-taker and other strategic partners to develop grower programmes.
• Identifies Agri supplier aggregators, mega farmers and micro farmers to create market access for and to support the development of low-scale farmers.
• Facilitate development of grower programmes models which will enable development farmers to deliver on market access opportunities.

2. Establish Farmer Development Programmes and Implementation

• Support Pre and Post Investment manager to develop pre and post investment support plan, pre and post investment programme and pre and post investment initiatives, integrating grower programme support.
• Support Pre and Post Investment manager to development tailor-made pre and post investment support programme for development farmers and aggregators that are supported through the partnership initiatives.
• Drive development of farmer development programme, farmer development plans and farmer development initiatives
• Works collaboratively across functions within the bank to farmer development models..

3. Support Implementation of Pre-and Post-Support Programme

• Support Pre and Post Investment manager to develop pre and post investment support plan, pre and post investment programme and pre and post investment initiatives, integrating grower programme support.
• Support Pre and Post Investment manager to development tailor-made pre and post investment support programme for development farmers and aggregators that are supported through the partnership initiatives.
• Support Pre and Post Investment manager to implement pre and post investment to development farmers and aggregators.
• Support Pre and Post Investment Manager to conduct of pre investment support needs analysis on funded development farmers and aggregators that are supported through the partnership initiatives, through integrating grower programme support.

4. Agriculture Ecosystem Collaboration and Stakeholder Management

• Build, foster and maintain consistent, effective and strong relationships with key industry role players and strengthen relationships.
• Special focus on partners that have similar development objectives with the Bank, such as Government Departments, Development Finance Institutions, Other Sponsor Funders, and Intermediaries.
• Stay up to date with Agri initiatives and developments and further strengthen the relationship to assess further business opportunities to promote long term mutually beneficial relationships.
• Participate in marketing events, whether hosted or invited.

5. Internal Land Bank Business Units Collaborations

• Seamlessly collaborate across Land Bank and Land Bank Insurance to develop and execute an integrated approach to grower programme, leveraging the array of assets and capabilities in other parts of the Land Bank.
• To lead, participate in and support cross-functional teams across Land Bank and Land Bank Insurance to drive and scale grower programme, in collaboration with external stakeholders.
• To work closely with the Land Bank Agricultural Economics and Advisory business unit in defining grower programme strategies and interventions, and subsequently leverage the technical support of the Agricultural Economics and Advisory business unit deliver grower programme and strategies.
• To work closely with the Land Bank Credit Risk business unit to develop and integrate risk mitigation into the grower programme strategies and interventions, and subsequently leverage the technical support of the Credit Risk business unit deliver risk migration interventions within the grower programme.

• Degree in Commerce / Science / Agriculture
• 3 years' experience at management level
• 7 years' experience at specialist level as agronomy or grower support

• Agriculture Ecosystem Stakeholder and client management
• Farmer development and technical support
• Grower Programme Development
• Grower Programme Operationalising strategy
• Legislative and regulatory context

• Knowledge of PFMA
• Knowledge of Land Bank Act
• Knowledge Banking Products
• Knowledge of Agricultural Operations