Agronomist (Horticulture / Irrigation Design / Frequent Travel)

United Exports is a completely integrated international fruit breeder, producer, and exporter with a particular focus on new blueberry varieties. Our leading blueberry brand, OZblu, is helping grow the category and set new standards across the globe.

Reporting to the Technical Director, this position is responsible for improving quality focusing on the increase of soil productivity and improved fruit nutrition and crop protection.

Key Performance Outputs

• Visit internal and third-party growers and consult on specific horticultural issues to achieve optimum fruit quality
• Use scientific methods to trial and evaluate different treatments to achieve the best possible results and implement on all farms
• Test and trial new fertiliser products to achieve maximum yield and obtain best fruit quality
• Assist with the designing of irrigation strategies and schedules
• Train and support growers and production managers to effectively apply all irrigation and fertigation practices and schedules
• Promote better and standardised farming practice across all farms in the Group

This position will work primarily outside in the orchards and would have to walk, stand and most likely kneel for extended periods. This position will also require frequent travel and a valid South African drivers license is essential. Our farms are located in the Cape Wine Lands (Paarl, Wellington, Tulbagh, Ceres, Worcester) and the Northern Provinces (Waterberg, Rustenburg, Limpopo, Lephalale and Randfontein), we are open to placing the ideal candidate in any one of the above mentioned locations.

Requirements

Qualifications / Experience

• A relevant tertiary degree in BSc Horticulture preferably with a post graduate degree in Agronomy
• 5 years relevant experience

Functional / Technical

• Awareness of industry trends, technology and developments
• Blueberry experience will be of an advantage
• Manage trails and do necessary report writing
• Strong computer literacy: MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams)
• Strong people management, relationship building and interpersonal relations skills
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
• Strong research, decision making, problem solving and attention to detail skills