Orchard Manager - Aliwal North Area at Farm Managers SA

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Grade 12
• Supervision of Staff
• Customer Services
• Strategic Planning
• Developing Budgets
• Equipment Maintenance
• Teamwork
• Excellent communication skills in English and Afrikaans
• Ability to communicate a vision or direction and inspire others to achieve it.
• Ability to identify, analyse and solve problems and issues in a timely and effective manner.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS
Fertilisation

• Calibration of fertilising equipment.
• Programme planning of the orchard blocks fertilisation.
• Physical execution and control or fertilisation

Irrigation

• Execute the programme and control sprinkler volumes and pressure. Monitor and repair leakages.
• Annual servicing of river pumps and irrigation, and continuous normal maintenance thereof.
• Organise the annual removal of silt from settling dam.

Orchard floor management and harvesting

• Weed control is effective. Mulching and slashing of orchard floor conducted in accordance with environmental factors.
• Staff are trained and competent in performing orchard floor management work.
• Weekly reports are compiled and submitted to the Senior Agriculturist and/or General Manager.
• Responsible for harvest preparation and harvesting process, tonnage per block and cultivar and post-harvesting cleaning of orchard

Spray programme

• Spray programmes are conducted in accordance with GlobalG.A.P. Calibration of sprayers.
• Control volumes sprayed and storage (disease, insects and foliar.
• Conduct maintenance of mist blowers. Responsible for handling of chemicals

People management

• Oversee the productive functioning of labourers, specialist drivers and workers, maintenance and supervision of all health and safety factors and measures, disciplinary measures taken as appropriate, staff motivation and overseeing the general well-being of employees.
• Conduct performance reviews on a regular basis.
• Organising day and night shifts for harvesters

Winter and summer pruning programme

• Check the functioning of all pruning equipment.
• Execution of pruning programme according to plan.
• Controlling of the pruning process and labourers.

On-the-job training of new staff

• Tractor drivers and specialised drivers and workers, irrigation controllers, pruners.
• Training on the shaker and specialist harvesting equipment