Managing Director - Pecans (Pty) Ltd, Kimberley at VKB Group

Key Responsibilities

Producer Relations and Financial Oversight

• Serve as the primary contact for producers, providing guidance on exchange rate hedging and administrative processes.
• Communicate pricing policies and market trends to producers.
• Ensure annual financial goals, including budgets and market share targets (producers and consumers), are established and approved by the Board.
• Monitor and optimize all revenues, margins, and costs against approved budgets or projections, identifying areas requiring corrective action.
• Distinguish between factors within and outside the company’s control, implementing corrective measures as needed.

Operational and Process Management

• Oversee and ensure optimal functioning of all internal processes and departments, including product processing, procurement, and marketing
• Identify and address underperforming areas, optimizing processes for efficiency and quality.
• Ensure departmental collaboration to meet production and market demands.

Leadership and Team Development

• Develop an agile organizational structure and align staff with company goals and strategies.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance work environment.

Strategic Alignment

• Align the company with three- and five-year trends in the global pecan industry and market dynamics through scenario modelling. Develop and implement proactive actions to manage these scenarios and their expected outcomes effectively.
• Evaluate the company’s capacity and geographic footprint relative to the industry and expected production growth to ensure optimal operations.
• Strengthen technological infrastructure and human resources to meet evolving market challenges.
• Build trust with stakeholders by increasing market share among producers and buyers annually, securing shareholder returns and confidence.

Skills and Attributes

• Strategic Vision: Ability to align the company with long-term industry trends and market opportunities.
• Operational Excellence: Expertise in driving efficiency and process improvements across departments.
• People Management: Proven capability to lead, inspire, and develop diverse teams.
• Market Knowledge: Deep understanding of the pecan nut industry and associated market dynamics.

Requirements

Education:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Agriculture, Business Management, or a related field (postgraduate qualifications preferred).

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years in a senior leadership role, preferably in the agricultural or food production sector.
• Proven track record of optimizing operational processes and leading high-performance teams.

Technical and soft skills:

• Strong understanding of international agricultural and forex markets and hedging mechanisms.
• Experience in process optimization and technological integration within a production environment.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a strategic mindset.
• Excellent communication skills to engage effectively with internal teams, producers, and stakeholders.