Global Technical Services Senior Agronomist
Sun World International is a California-based agriculture and technology company engaged in fruit variety and cultivar development, technology, intellectual property, and licensing. Technology and IP pursuits include one of the world’s leading table grape and specialty fruit breeding/genetics programs, a broad-based portfolio of plant patents and trademarks and investments in agriculture technology start-ups benefiting its global licensees. Licensing consists of sharing new proprietary citrus, stone fruit and table grape cultivars, and the IP they comprise, with like-minded fruit growers and marketers in more than 15 countries around the world. The Company prizes creativity, innovation, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Its people strive for excellence by demonstrating leadership, passion, kindness, authenticity, courage, initiative, and curiosity.
Location: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. Will also consider those in the Citrusdal area.
Work Schedule: Hybrid
The Global Technical Services Senior Agronomist’s task is to support the GTS Citrus and Sub-tropical team in assisting growers and marketers to improve the performance of our company’s proprietary cultivars on their farms to maximise the profitability of these cultivars, and in conducting evaluations and applied research of our commercial and new cultivars. This position will have the opportunity for future growth potential.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Support the GTS Citrus and Sub-Tropical team:
- Achieving the desired outputs and targets of Sun World. Undertaking regular visits to cultivar trial sites and commercial farms where our company’s proprietary cultivars are grown under license.
- Evaluating the cultivars’ performance, estimating yield, monitoring fruit quality,
- Identifying and addressing technical challenges, providing growers with technical support, following up on the implementation and progress of recommendations.
- Generating technical reports, for both growers (after visits) and internal (after trips or summarising the season).
- Design and supervise field trials aimed at finding solutions to overcome technical challenges that limit yield and/or fruit quality of our company’s proprietary cultivars, participating in the production of a final report. Assist in data collection if needed
- Optimising Sun World’s success by assisting with new pipeline cultivar evaluation and test block trial management, developing guidelines for best cultural practices for these cultivars.
- Developing and implementing various channels of communications with our company’s licensees in the region, such as Chat groups, webinars, broadcasting, newsletters, and field days, using these channels to deliver valuable technical information at relevant times during the season.
- Optimising data intelligence and support building of a technology system, through constant search, and evaluation of technologies that may be beneficial to our company and/or to our licensees.
- Supporting the Licensing Manager with information required for best business management.
- Actively participating in GTS teamwork, events, duties and participation, contributing to the GTS team success.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred) in Agronomy or similar field, with a minimum of 5 years of applicable experience as a technical/applied researcher, agronomist or advisor/ consultant.
- Knowledge, experience or exposure in the Citrus and/or Sub Tropical Industries, including plant physiology, plant nutrition, soil classification and adaptation, rootstocks, irrigation requirements and other relevant agronomic requirements.
- Strong verbal and non-verbal communicational skills in English and Afrikaans (open to other language other than Afrikaans). Proficiency in other South African languages will be an advantage.
- A high level of proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Experience with and/or interest in other Ag-related technologies will be an advantage.
- High flexibility and mobility, readiness to travel, willingness to work during non-standard hours and on weekends/holidays if necessary.
- Ability to travel up to 25% - within the Cape Region. Some overnight travel may be required - but it will be minimal.
- Exceptional time management skills and organizational ability, with the skill to multi-task and prioritize tasks. Ability to seek and suggest improvements.
- Previous leadership experience would be a plus.
- Organised, good at documenting and retrieving data, files, and reports.
- Curious, investigative, always willing to try and learn something new.
- A high level in problem solving skills, a keen eye for detail.
- Respecting confidentiality, complying with the POPI Act, not disclosing farm and company information.
- Excellent financial management, providing and managing an annual GTS budget.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Have a valid driver’s license.
For more information:
Kathy Stevens
Senior Recruiter
[email protected]