Senior Agronomist (Vegetables & Fruits Agribusinesses)

Riparian Farming Limited – Established in 1994 as an asset management firm, ARM offers wealth creation opportunities through a unique blend of traditional asset management and alternative investment services. We enable businesses to thrive, and help our clients to maximize their returns and realize their most important goals. For over two decades, we have built a firm uniquely equipped to achieve these objectives and our reputation for quality research, investment expertise and value-added services has endeared us to clients both locally and internationally.

Job Summary

• Management of all RFL’s vegetables and fruits agribusiness (RFL:V&F) matters concerning the seedling nursery, irrigation, fertilization, disease detection and prevention, etc. and related activities under the direct supervision and direction of the Chief Agronomist: RFL Vegetables & Fruits Agribusinesses.
• Exercise strict asset and stock control over all agribusiness vehicles, implements, machinery, plant, equipment and inputs, as well as operational costs under his direct area of responsibility as advised by the Chief Agronomist from time-to-time.
• Training of selected candidates on all RFL:V&F matters concerning the seedling nursery, irrigation, fertilization, disease detection and prevention, etc. and related activities under the direct supervision and direction of the Chief Agronomist: Vegetables & Fruits Agribusinesses.
• Fully support the Chief Agronomist’s objectives to achieve agreed revenue, cost, profit and cash-flow targets as set out in the business plan from time-to-time.

• To work effectively and closely with the Chief Agronomist to convert the RFL:V&F Strategic Plan, Vision and Mission for the various vegetables and fruits agribusinesses into a commercially successful realities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Follow strict management, operational and monitoring programmes as agreed with the Chief Agronomist from time-to-time with respect to the seedling nursery, irrigation, fertilization, disease detection and prevention, etc. related matters.
• Ongoing provision of operational information (and such other relevant information as may from time-to-time be required or deemed necessary) to the Chief Agronomist.
• Assisting the Chief Agronomist with the preparation of and/or participation in the preparation of a business plan(s) for the Chief Agronomist’s various vegetables and fruits agribusiness projects and ensuring implementation in line with approved budgets of the same from time-to-time as may be required.
• Monitoring the performance of his direct area of responsibility on an ongoing basis against approved programmes and budgets in order to timeously recommend any action the Chief Agronomist may need to consider appropriate for the protection of RFL:V&F assets – Risk Management.
• Implementing all relevant procedures as advised by the Chief Agronomist from time-to-time to maintain compliance with ARM rules and procedures and to maintain compliance with regulatory statutes and authorities.
• Any other agribusiness related tasks as advised by the Chief Agronomist to ensure compliance with ARM rules and procedures, with regulatory statutes and authorities, and to ensure project implementation in line with approved budgets as may be required from time-to-time.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of all facets of large scale irrigated and mechanized commercial vegetables and fruits agribusiness, including but not limited to:

­       Bush clearing

­       Land preparation

­       Seedling production

­       Irrigated vegetable crop production

­       Rainfed vegetable crop and pasture production

• Good multitasking capabilities
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage issues within his direct area of responsibility as advised by the Chief Agronomist from time-to-time
• Excellent communication skills
• Result-oriented training focused management
• Service orientation

Qualification and Experience

• Applicable secondary/Tertiary education certificates
• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in practical large-scale commercial vegetables and fruits agribusiness operations