Agronomist

Zambia Sugar Plc, is a subsidiary of Illovo Sugar Africa (Pty) Ltd Group, and is the leading sugar producer in Zambia. Its main activities are the growing of sugar cane, the production and marketing of sugar and other sugar down stream products.

The Company invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the following position:

AGRONOMIST (1 POSITION, MIDDLE MANAGEMENT) – AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT

The position reports to the Agriculture Optimisation Manager.

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing direction and technical guidance on crop varieties, crop nutrition: crop protection (weed control and Pest + Disease control) and irrigation to ensure long-term optimization of yield and cost of production. The operational performance promoting and supporting embedding of agronomic best practices as well as designing, implementing and managing sugar cane agronomictrials

Key performance areas

• Implement sustainable agronomic practices with the objective of closing the gap between the actual and the attainable yield potentials for each field on each estate
• Support adoption and embedding of agreed best practices, frameworks, minimum standards and processes for agronomy
• Implement and manage sugar cane agronomic trials (fertilizers and crop protection) required by the head of agricultural optimisation as part of a continuous productivity initiative
• Formulate, communicate and monitor fertilizer, weed control and ripener programmes (including 3rd party contractor management)
• Manage Estate nursery fields, monitor seed quality, and ensure regular disease inspections are carried out
• Ensure all commercial and nursery fields are timeously surveyed for pests and diseases, and that their infestation levels and recommendations are communicated to the relevant parties
• Ensure all agronomic data is captured for trend analysis, repotting and decision making
• Support agronomic optjmisation by adopting new technologies and methods and ensure continuous improve mentby implementing best practices and conducting regular system checks
• Develop new SOPs per requirements and assure performance against agronomy-related SOPs
• Monitor trends to understand impact of adopted practices, and refine practices accordingly
• Provides agronomic advice to Growers
• Promote and adhere to Group’s procedures, policies and guidelines , including, without limitation, those relating to Safety Health Environment Risk & Quality (SHERQ), Connpetition Law and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC)

Minimum specifications / Requirements areas

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture / Diploma in Agriculture
• 5 years experience in sugar cane agriculture
• Research orientated with experience in agronomic experiments, trial work and evaluation
• Good business acumen and agricultural expertise, with ability to anticipate: interpret and respond to changes impacting on functional area
• Abnormal business/commercial qualification would be an advantage
• Strong agriculture data analysis skills

Candidates interested in applying for the above positions, kindly email your detailed CV & copies of qualifications to [email protected].

No hard copy applications or phone calls will be accepted

Closing dale receiving applicalions is 12:00hrs on Tuesday 5th May 2020.

Should you not hear from us within 4 weeks after the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.