Grower Agriculture Manager at Zambia Sugar Plc

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn More We have started building our professional LinkedIn page. Follow TO BE A SAFE, HEALTHY AND RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE, A BEAUTIFUL ESTATE AND A DIVERSIFIED AGRIBUSINESS WHICH IS THE BEST AT SERVING CUSTOMERS Zambia Sugar Plc. is a subsidiary of ABF Sugar Company and is the leading sugar producer in Zambia. Its main activities are the growing of sugarcane, the production and marketing of sugar and other sugar downstream products. The Company invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the following position in Agriculture Department: GROWER AGRICULTURE MANAGER x 1 – PERMANENT AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT (NAKAMBALA) Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the position Grower Agriculture Manager. The position reports to the Agriculture Director and operates within the Agriculture function. • Develop the long-term cane supply plan; ensure that appropriate processes are run to refresh plan at appropriate intervals and that initiatives are in place to deliver on the plan strategy. • Oversee coordination of a rateables supply of cane to the mill aligned with mill requirements, ensuring delivery equity between Growers (including Estate cane) and haulers is maintained, and that “no cane” stops, other than those for rain, are minimized and plant crushing capacity & overall time efficiency (OTE) maximized. • Develop crop forecasts from review of strategic analysis of crop growing areas being cognizant of prevailing conditions e.g. weather, soil, politics, social etc. • Build a strong leadership team and talent pipeline for Grower agriculture through ongoing coaching, mentoring and guidance. • Drive rigorous performance management, biased towards rewarding strong performance and compliance with critical behaviors, and including managing consequences where required. • Drive operational excellence across Grower agriculture by making informed tradeoffs and driving initiatives that will deliver a sustainable cane supply at optimal cost and quality levels. • Ensure adoption of group standards and processes for identifying and securing cane supply, supporting the Grower ecosystem, managing Grower relationships and managing Grower cane supply. • Drive synergies with the group, effectively partnering with group counterparts to identify, share and embed opportunities for optimisation. • Oversee relationships with Growers, key stakeholders and 3rd party suppliers • Report on cane supply and Grower performance, including key adverse or positive developments, to Nakambala Leadership and One Centre Agriculture. • Initiate and develop the business case for key projects (including innovation opportunities), ensuring required outcomes are delivered on time. • Establish and maintain a cane production and grower relationship management database that satisfies business requirements. • Manage and coordinate sharing of identified best practices, frameworks and minimum standards within function through One Centre platform and provide additional opportunities for problem identification and knowledge sharing • Oversee effective talent and performance management within function. • Promote and adhere to Illovo’s procedures, policies and guidelines, including, without limitation, those relating to SHERQ, Competition Law and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC). • Ensure enablers are in place to promote success (e.g. systems and processes). • Identify and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track performance and flag any issues. • Agriculture Degree or equivalent • Preferably 8+ years experience in sugar cane agricultural operations, Grower liaison and cane supply. • Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills • Good business acumen and agricultural expertise, with ability to anticipate, interpret and respond to changes impacting on functional area • A formal business/commercial qualification would be an advantage • Strong agriculture data analysis skills • Suitably qualified applicants must provide certificates verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA).