Agro Processing Manager - VOPS Caledon at The South African Breweries (SAB)

The key purpose of this role is to be responsible for effective planning, co-ordination, execution, support, implementation and evaluation of agricultural raw material varieties and processing initiatives in the ABInBev supply chain throughout Africa.

Key roles and responsibilities:

• Commercialization of Cassava and Sorghum programs across Africa
• Planning, co-ordination and execution of all processing trials in the Micro brewing and Pilot malting plant as prioritized based on stakeholder requirements.
• Data analysis, monitoring and reporting of annual barley crop quality status and risk.
• Alignment with stakeholders on industry challenges and improvement opportunities and prioritizing those stakeholder needs to match the processing plant capability to deliver the best value through trial execution and recommendations.
• Manage and develop team members to meet stakeholder requirements.
• Responsible for the operation and daily running of the Pilot Malting plant
• Specialty malt production and sales
• Barley/Sorghum Malting trials or other raw materials identified
• Processing trials of cassava or new raw materials identified  
• Responsible for the operation and daily running of a satellite laboratory
• Micro malting of raw material samples etc.
• Laboratory analysis and management
• Compiles experimental and analytical data.
• Equipment and plant maintenance planning and execution.
• Manage utilities to processing plant.
• Development and implementation of new methods for raw material evaluation and processing aligned with Global standards.
• Discusses the orientation and technical demands of the projects.
• Assesses needs and coordinates provision of equipment and materials. 
• Acts as resource person, resolves problems and instructs others.
• Assumes responsibility for the technical aspects in the execution of these projects. 
• Operates related processing equipment in order to execute trials
• Reviews, selects and modifies technologies and methodology.
• Provides technical guidance and assistance concerning work methods, the use of equipment and techniques, and the analysis of results. 
• Analyses and discusses results and their interpretation with agri team, brewers etc.
• Participates in devising new methodology.
• Maintains records and files. 
• Management of KPI’s, maintenance and budgets for equipment of agro processing
• Define, in close consultation with the Africa business, the short, medium and long-term objectives of the Cassava/Sorghum programme
• Propose new Cassava/Sorghum varieties and help build a competitive alternate crop portfolio
• Develop and implement a long term pathology strategy for Africa to deliver commercial products with the required disease profiles.
• Work closely with Agricultural teams across and within countries as well as Zone Technical Raw Material & Process Development Brewers to deliver highest quality and lowest cost of brewing raw materials
• Promote innovation and maintain a high technical and scientific level of the team.
• Keep abreast of technical and scientific developments in the value chain for continuous improvement of KPIs to ensure alignment to strategic imperatives.
• Keep up to date with new developments in Barley/Cassava/Sorghum, Researching methods,  and techniques for improving value across the supply chain
• Develop close relationships with entities operating within and in other territories focusing on similar markets.
• Participate in workshops, Barley/Cassava/Sorghum inter-professional groups in Africa and follow the industry trends.

Profile:

• BSc: Agriculture/ Biochemistry/Food Science  
• Qualified Brewer with Brewing and/Malting experience
• Exposure to barley, malt, cassava and sorghum an advantage
• Exposure to new plant/process commissioning an advantage
• Data: Statistical analysis and evaluation/data interpretation capability.
• Experience with working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of research principles and best practices.
• Excellent verbal and communication skills.
• Initiative and self-starter
• People management skills