Position Title: Senior Extension Officer

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time ​

Position Location: Springs 

Grade: Grade 03 

Requisition ID: 33326 

 

 

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position of Senior Extension Officer to be based at the McCain Springs site, reporting to the Vegetable Procurement Manager.

 

PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

 

The Senior Extension Officer is responsible for;

The planning of crops in the responsible area to meet the business required volume and quality at the correct time. Draft and update master plan per crop. Supervising the sampling team (when in his/her designated area) to ensure that regular crop sampling takes place to monitor anticipated quality and quantity contracted to crops and determine harvesting date & schedule. Ensure that all seed is booked/invoiced to relevant farmers and documented (follow Standard Operating Procedure). Effective communication with Factory, Agric and Mechanization to minimize impact of deviation. Ensuring vegetables are contracted, planted and harvested in accordance with timelines and agreed pricing so to deliver the required volumes and quality to the production team. He/she is responsible for expanding grower bases, ensure compliance with company guidelines and provide technical support to growers. Monitor fields on weekly basis and highlight red flags to McCain and Farmer. Insuring farmers are Global or McCain GAP compliant.

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KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

 

Foster a culture that promotes a safe work environment through the development and implementation of safety plans and training.Maintain environmental and regulatory compliance standards.Build strong relationship with current growers and develop grower base.Contract the required crop volumes timeouslyMonitor crop/field to advise the farmer on corrective action.Minimize expensive buy out by ensuring contracted crop materializes.Ensure continuous yield improvements on the six major crops in line with targets set & agreed upon with the Veg Procurement Manager.Monitor crop/fields regularly in order to advise and give technical support to the farmer.Educate farmers through grower information days.Plan planting and harvesting schedule according to production capacity and requirement.Develop relationship with local crop protection companies to collaborate and ensure corrective actionKeep current grower base (crop specific) updated on current challenges and possible solution.Inform farmers off the GAP compliant requirement.Assist farmer with required information and procedure to prepare for Audit.Obtain GAP certificates and monitor the grower base compliance.Assist Agronomy in developing improved varieties.Implementation and upkeep of McCain agricultural technologies (irrigation probes, NDVI maps, Drones & precision farming).Educate farmers through grower information days.

 

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum is Diploma in Agriculture, Agronomy/Crop Science (Degree in similar fields will be an added advantage).Minimum of 5 years’ agricultural advisory experience.Certification in BASOS & AVCASA.Valid Driver’s License (Code E)Exceptional knowledge and understanding of agricultural production systems and variables, e.g. crops, climate, disease, fertilization, irrigation, soils, etc.Knowledge of current and emerging agricultural technologies. An understanding of raw material supply chain activities and the relationship between the grower and the factory.Negotiation and conflict management skills.Demonstrated strong interpersonal, problem solving and relationship building skills.Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a flexible, fast paced and challenging operational environment.Strong orientation for peopleComputer literacy essentialGood written and verbal communication skills in English.Must be competent in crop planning, scheduling and execution.

 

The closing date for applications is 15 January 2025.

 

 

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McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace.  As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. 
 
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
 
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the Global Employee Privacy Policy 

 

Job Family: Agriculture      
Division: South Africa 
Department: ​Agriculture Vegetable Procurement ​
Location(s): ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Springs || ZA - South Africa : Eastern Cape : Port Elizabeth || ZA - South Africa : Free State : Bloemfontein || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Bapsfontein || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Bedfordview || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Bronkhorstspruit || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Johannesburg || ZA - South Africa : Gauteng : Katlehong || ZA - South Africa : KwaZulu-Natal : Durban || ZA - South Africa : Limpopo : Marble Hall || ZA - South Africa : Mpumalanga : Delmas || ZA - South Africa : North West : Lichtenburg || ZA - South Africa : Other : Reference job description || ZA - South Africa : Western Cape : CapeTown || ZA - South Africa : Western Cape : George 

Company: McCain Foods (S Africa)