Junior Farming Field Manager at COFCO International

Minimum qualifications and experience

• Ideal candidate should have a minimum tertiary qualification, BSC Agriculture or BComm Agricultural Economics degree, and/or demonstrated work experience of minimum 2 years in managing farms and practical knowledge of farm row crops.

Job Description Summary

Plan, execute, manage and report on the designated farming units in the region.

Planning:

• Construct crop production plans for maize, soybeans, sunflower, wheat and cotton for designated COFCO farming units in conjunction with the COFCO Operations Manager and COFCO Contractors.
• The production plan includes making chemical- and fertilizer recommendations in conjunction with respective chemical representatives and agronomists.
• Building a set budget for each unit covering all necessary scenarios within an achievable cost range with the COFCO Operations Manager.
• Evaluate different input prices and farming practice to determine the most efficient production plan.

Execution:

• Execute the production plans within the set budget together with COFCO Operations Manager and Farming Contractors.
• Oversee that land preparations are done accurately and on time.
• Ensure timely planting and application of inputs within correct procedure and circumstances as set out in the production plan with Farming Contractors and COFCO Operations Manager.
• Ensure timely and accurate delivery of inputs and contracting services rendered.
• Ensure accurate delivery of harvested crops into designated silos and/or coordinating on-farm loading of harvested crops to end-point destinations.

Managing:

• Coordinate Farming Contractors by assisting with their day-to-day crop production activities and decision making.
• Continuously visiting designated farming units to follow up and help solve challenges, problems and monitor general progress. 
• On-farm stock management with safe stock storage, regular stock taking and implementation of inputs.
• Reporting:
• Frequent updating and reporting on crop progress as well as projecting production outcomes based on agronomical characteristics and facts for the designated COFCO South Africa Farming unit.
• Reporting on factors that influence the crops during the season and potential damage and/or solutions to it.
• Reporting on the planned budget and any factors that may influence it toward potential over or under spending for each designated farming unit.
• On-farm as well as COFCO storage facility stock quantities.
• Report daily rainfall from farm.
• Complete, report and update crop estimates pre-harvest.
• Report deliveries into designated delivery points of harvested crops and reconcile with reports from Support from Stellenbosch.

Essential Skills

• Sufficient knowledge of crop farming – technical and theoretical.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in administrative tasks – reporting, budgets etc.
• Good interpersonal and organizing skills.
• Ability to prioritize effectively, with excellent time management skills.
• Planner with the ability to identify possible future obstacles, and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to be proactive and work under pressure.
• Ability to handle conflict situations well and establish a plan/strategy that reduces future situations.
• Critical thinker with emotional resilience to overcome obstacles.
• Self-confident and self-assured approach.
• Adaptable with the ability to apply plans/strategy for the better as conditions/situations change.

Core Competencies

• Customer focus: Strong external/internal customer orientation.
• Communication: Listens well and shares ideas and solutions.
• Teamwork: Seeks involvement and input from other people.
• Initiative: Proactive, drives processes and tasks to achieve results.
• Innovation: Comes up with resourceful ideas and solutions.
• Ownership & Accountability: Takes ownership of own decisions and actions – successes and mistakes.
• Management: Gives timely, constructive and specific feedback.
• Detail orientation: Organized, methodical, good attention to detail.