Job Description

A subsidiary of a global soft fruit marketing company, is looking for a Technical Manager, who wants to grow together with their team from South Africa. The Technical Manager will be responsible for providing expert technical production support & building grower relationships within an assigned region. The role will be based in Stellenbosch, Western Cape.Main Purpose of the Role:The Technical Manager will be responsible for providing expert technical guidance to growers, ensuring best agricultural practices, optimizing production quality, and strengthening the alignment between growers and the business. The role includes pre-season, in-season, and post-season technical support, data analysis, and strategic planning to drive superior fruit quality and maximize grower profitability. Additionally, the incumbent will play a key role in team capacity development and grower-based business expansions.Key Performance Areas of the role * Grower Technical Support:

• Conduct scheduled production unit visits and generate technical reports.
• Provide pruning plans, orchard assessments, agronomic advice, identify quality concerns and support growers to implement intervention strategies to optimise yield and quality.
• Track and report grower challenges, drive investigations, and communicate solutions.
• Ensure seamless grower communication on crop quality, volumes, and production practices.
• Grower business development & performance reporting:

• Gather and analyse seasonal production data to generate post-season reports per allocated grower and region.
• Partake in team based post-season evaluations and contribute to quality & production improvement discussions - internally and with individual growers.
• Capacity Development & Knowledge Transfer:

• Identify technical knowledge gaps and generate educational materials for the grower base and internal teams.
• Assist in organizing technical workshops and field days for growers.
• Grower Relationship & Business Development:

• Strengthen the relationship between growers and the business.
• Guide growers on variety selection, optimization strategies, and economic drivers.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy, or related field.
• Experience in agricultural consulting, grower liaison, or a similar role within the soft fruit (or related fruit) industry.
• Strong technical knowledge of blueberry production, post-harvest management, and quality control.
• Ability to analyze and interpret production and commercial data.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Proficiency in reporting tools and Power BI dashboards is an advantage.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of an industry-leading company specialising in marketing of blueberries.
• Work closely with top-tier growers, enhancing their production capabilities and profitability.
• Gain access to cutting-edge genetic programs and the latest agricultural innovations.
• Contribute to a team that values expertise, innovation, and strong business relationships.

If you are passionate about agriculture and eager to make an impact in the soft fruit industry, apply today to join their dynamic team!

Agrijob