🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Capitol Foods Limited – Pineapple Farm Manager
General Description and Job Overview:
As Capitol Food’s Pineapple Farm Manager, you will be responsible for delivering step change
in yield and quality for the pineapple crop at Capitol Foods’ outgrowers’ farms, by implementing
global best practices for the cultivation and post-harvest handling of pineapples; and achieving
sustainability through training of staff and implementation of appropriate administrative systems.
You will be our pineapple cultivation specialist, providing technical support and
implementing agronomist practices that promote efficiency on our pineapple farms. You will
manage operation capacity and development of our pineapple value chain that contributes to
development investments; and actions that are in collaboration with stakeholders and cooperating
partners, to generate positive sustainability outcomes.
Finally, you should have a solid background in agronomy and also have good business skills that include excellent working knowledge of purchasing supplies, preparing budgets and reports and excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work cross-functionally and internationally to align projects with business goals and collaborate with teams to achieve milestones.
Job Description
Key responsibilities and duties. The role shall include, but is not limited to, the following duties:
- Establishing and Managing a 125+ Acres Pineapple Plantation:
- Selection of inputs (suckers, organic fertilizers, inducing agents, etc)
- Proper plant spacing to maximise yield
- Setting an (automatic, or manual) irrigation system
- Proper planting schedules to ensure biweekly harvest throughout the year o Training and Monitoring of out-growers on the above practices
• Develop and implement better planting, cultivation, and harvesting techniques thereby improving crop yield.
• Manage Pineapple agronomic practices and processes that meet local, regional and international markets.
• Promote better farming practices. demonstrate keen problem-solving techniques with focus on efficiency and take a hands-on approach to farm management.
• Develop inducing and irrigation schedules, budgets, and timelines.
• Prepare plans for harvesting and ensure staff understand expectations.
• Base on the farm to inspect crops and also perform tests on soil and water.
• Test samples for nutritional deficiencies, diseases, or other changes.
• Research and promote agricultural strategies to counter the effects of changes in soil,
climate, weather, and pest damage.
Stock management - Ensure pineapple suckers, fertilisers, pesticides, and other farming supplies are regularly restocked.
• Schedule repairs, maintenance, and replacement of farm equipment and machinery.
• Assist with the recruitment and training of new staff members and conduct training on
pineapple farming techniques through educational presentations.
• Ensure all staff adheres to Health and Safety regulations.
• Collaborate with senior staff to prepare budgets and financial reports.
• Build professional networks and keep abreast of developments in agricultural science.
• Keep detailed records regarding fields, crops and samples and generate reports and
present findings to management and stakeholders.
• Carry out any other ad hoc duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job
and is essential to the successful and profitable operation of the business.
Experience & Requirements:
Education and Experience:
• An agronomist, or a crop or agricultural scientist.
• Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, agricultural engineering or related field.
• Five or more years’ experience at a senior level within a large (greater than 100 acres)
and successful pineapple growing operation.
• Exposure to agricultural quarantine and control of contamination of fruits and
vegetables.
• Expert in ISO certification, goods manufacturing and HACCP Practices.
• Proven ability to manage the effective use of pesticides and bio-pesticides
• Experience with irrigated agricultures and farming inducement.
• Proficient with computers, especially MS Office and diagnostic scientific software.
• Knowledge of operations and maintenance of farm equipment.
• Knowledge of farm and industrial safety issues and the ability to develop, adopt and
provide safety training.
Personal Skills:
Hands on experience in large pineapple farms and experience with certified pineapple sucker production is a must.
• Physically fit with ability to work outside, stand, walk, kneel, and stoop for extended periods.
• Strong research, decision making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Awareness of industry trends, technology, and developments.
• Active listener with verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong managerial skills, with experience in working with diverse teams.
• Highly motivated, dedicated, determined, and results oriented.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: CEO, Operations Director, Chief Accountant, Quality Control Manager, Business Development Manager and Middle Management Team.
