Executive Manager: Agricultural Economics & Advisory at Land Bank Careers

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

• To lead and proactively drive a Specialised Knowledge Hub for Agricultural Industry Economics and Scientific Expertise for the Land Bank.
• Creates strategies and programmes to improve the service delivery capability across the bank
• To establish approaches and methodologies across the entire Bank for effective and consistently applied Assessment / Due Diligence processes.
• Initiate, grow and sustain sector specific development programmes, in conjunction with intermediaries and service providers, across the country.
• The purpose if this business division is to serve a s a provider of specialist agri sector expertise, supporting the front-end banking teams to undertake in-depth due diligence of projects/enterprises, to evaluate risks, and to advise on the structuring and mitigation mechanisms.

Key Performance Areas    

Develops, Implements, monitors and adjusts the Agricultural Economics and Advisory strategy as aligned to the corporate plan

• Participating in Group Strategy Formulation as a member of the Exco.
• Analyse the Land Bank Strategy to determine the future trends and strategic direction of the company and translates Group Strategy into relevant divisional strategy.
• Interpret the Land Bank Strategy to determine the 3 year vision/strategy for Corporate Banking.
• Apply extensive industry, market and product knowledge to drive revenue production and business growth.

Design, implement and grow a Specialised Knowledge Hub for Agricultural Industry Economics and Scientific Expertise for the Land Bank

• Design and resource the optimal structure
• Research, Design and implement an operational model to achieve outputs
• Creates and implements the process and methodology to enhance the efficiencies of the funding process from origination to maturity
• Creates services offerings to support on the ground providers in order to enhance quality of business

Agricultural Economics and Advisory Governance and Enterprise Risk Management

• Apply highly developed credit risk management skills and set the standard for client lending practices for the team and hold the team accountable for meeting these standards.
• Responsible for the continual assessment of operational risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements,
• Clearly articulate the value proposition of each transaction proposed and how the credit risks support the value proposition.

Initiate, grow and sustain sector specific development programmes

• Source sector specific development opportunities through the current banking structure
• Partners with intermediaries and service providers to initiate, grow and sustain sector specific development programmes
• Reviews Land Bank Strategy and Development impact to align potential sector specific development opportunities for example transformative initiatives such as:
• Commercialisation of Emerging Wool Farmers in the Eastern Cape
• Expansion of Macadamia Nuts initiatives
• Resuscitation of Citrus production in Limpopo

Executive Functions

• Chair / member of operational committees where input is relevant
• Relevant board communications and interactions
• Provide/source ad hoc advice to meet organisational requirements
• Play a key role in developing and implementing strategy and objectives for designated business area
• Facilitate client interaction across the Land Bank

Divisional and People Management
Performance Management

• Analyse the business plan to determine the applicable deliverables and targets
• Compile the Performance Management documentation in collaboration with the staff members 
• Conduct performance planning session and Track and monitor performance in accordance with performance contracts
• Conduct performance reviews in accordance with policies and procedures and take corrective actions where necessary

Capacity Planning

• Determine the human resource requirements, in accordance with the expected deliverables and current capacity
• Secure the human capital requirements to ensure that deliverables will be met in accordance with the expected targets
• Set and achieve employment equity targets.
• Minimise staff turnover

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the divisional budget
• Manage expenditure and ensure no fruitless expenditure
• Adhere to financial guidelines and thus ensure proper control over expenditure
• Pursue divisional targets and manage the financial health and stability of division

Preferred Minimum Education and Experience    

• Postgraduate qualification with focus in Agricultural production and Agri-business Management 
• Executive  Management experience in Agri-culture related business / financing entities > 10 years

Critical Competencies    

• Ability to understand and interpret vision and strategy.
• Finance and banking skillset including transaction structuring, financial analysis, due diligence and credit skills,
• Assess client needs, drivers of profitability, and corporate life cycle optimising financial solutions.
• Influences client decision regarding strategy and product Solutions-Engages in joint business planning with internal partner.
• Deep understanding of impact of the sector and external factors (e.g. economy, financial markets, market risk dynamics etc.) on risk of the Land Bank portfolio and potential transactions.
• Thorough understanding of South African and other relevant regulations
• Ability to train relevant lending Business Units as required.
• Create effective and practicable frameworks.
• Understanding of competitors’ offerings.
• Familiar with the relevant legislative framework.
• Additional Requirements    
• Extended hours as and when required
• Travel as and when required

Closing Date    
2023/05/22