VAC 001/2024-2025

MANAGER-MECHANISATION AND CROPPING

§  Salary: Market-related remuneration package, with employer provident fund and medical aid

§  Based: Queenstown

§  Duration: Permanent

§  The position entails management and supervision in running the Agency’s mechanisation support unit to provide support to local emerging farmers, as well as managing cropping initiatives implemented by the agency

JOB TITLE

Manager: Mechanisation / Cropping

ORGANISATION

CHRIS HANI DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

CONTRACT

Permanent

BUSINESS UNIT

Programme Management Unit

REPORTING TO

Executive Manager Operations 

SUPERVISES

Tractor operators

Semi-artisans

QMC admin staff

PRINCIPAL

JOB PURPOSE

• To oversee the daily operations of the mechanisation center based at Qamata
• To expand QMC customer base and develop revenue generation potential of the center
• To contribute at specialist level for the facilitation and delivery of mechanisation support function as input for the implementation of the district – wide cropping support programme with specific reference to dry land & irrigated cropping.

·       Provide management expertise to QMC operations, in order to deliver timely, appropriate and sustainable mechanisation and agricultural extension support interventions that meet the needs of the local cropping communities

·       Implement and co-ordinate all cropping programmes within CHDA programme portfolio to support LED and own revenue generation

ATTRIBUTES /

REQUIREMENTS

·       Post-matric qualification in Agriculture, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, or related discipline with qualification in project management or equivalent an advantage

·       3-5 years related experience

·       Computer literacy and a valid Driver’s licence

·       Excellent interpersonal, organisational, verbal and written communications skills

·       Project Management, Risk Management and People Management skills required

KEY COMPETENCIES

Definition and level of proficiency required

Function specific

Excellent people management ability to communicate to diverse individuals and groups, good people management skills, problem solving and decision-making ability

Service orientation

Ability to provide quality customer and personal service

Communication

Sound knowledge of the structure and content of English and ability to communicate in both verbal and written form.  Well-developed interpersonal skills.  Ability to communicate well with all levels of staff and stakeholders.

Administrative

Well-developed administrative and management capacity in a project related environment.

Computer skills

Ability to use computers and computer systems and essential programmes e.g.  MS Office Suite and in particular MS Project and any other project management tools

Project Mngt

High degree of technical project management knowledge, preferably in an economic development environment running multiple project environments. Ability to develop detailed project plans.

Financial

Basic knowledge of managing project finances and understanding of donor funding to ensure compliance with all financial reporting requirements

1.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPA’s)

Technical

1.1  Technical

§  Analyse technical feasibility of proposed interventions in the mechanisation support function

§  Recommend appropriate, sustainable and environmentally friendly farming system

§  Keep up to date with latest farming technology through participating in both government and private sector forums

§  Designing and preparing proposals for mechanisation support interventions and seek and/or identify sources of funding for the center and its operations

§  Designing and preparing tariffs structures to effectively price mechanisation services, build customer base, collect revenue and increase center income

§  Managing all aspects of the center operations, including work scheduling, supervision of staff, and the development of effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems.

§  Coordinate, plan and implement all cropping programmes under CHDA, inclusive of production plans, land mapping, soil analysis, and related agri-extension and technical support

§  Preparing monthly reports on activities and submitting monthly reports as agreed.

Project Management

1.2 Project Management

§  Manage full project cycle on assigned projects

§  Ensure that all projects are conducted against contract specification and payments are based on agreed milestone

§  Applies appropriate project management methodologies and disciplines

§  Identify spin-off projects and opportunities

§  Maintain project records as per company policy and ensure that all project records are uploaded into the company knowledge management system

§  Create a high-performance culture in the center and its operations

§  Prepare audit files as and when required

Stakeholder management

1.3  Stakeholder management

§  Representation and liaison with key stakeholders in government, private sector, and community stakeholders

§  Build and maintain relationship with all key stakeholders in and around the irrigations schemes.

§  Ensure appropriate and timely communications with all stakeholders

§  Build partnerships with relevant stakeholders to ensure irrigation programme success

§  Create reports to communicate about progress on implementation for all stakeholders

Raise funds for projects

1.4  Raise funds for center operations

§  Identify potential funders

§  Present detailed project proposals and plans to funders for consideration

§  Ensure that all contracts for funding are in place and that the contracts include payment terms

§  Work with the office of the CFO on all related billing and revenue processing activities

Risk management

1.5  Risk management

§  Identify project risks - economic, stakeholder, political and social

§  Develop and maintain project risk register and ensure that mitigation steps are applied

§  Assign values to risks in order to understand financial implications of risk

Financial Controls

1.6  Financial Controls

§  Highlight variances against project budget

§  Ensure expenditure against target

§  Prediction of cash flow needs

§  Develop comprehensive revenue generation and breakeven strategies to allow the move to a commercially viable and sustainable mechanisation center

§  Work with the office of the CFO in managing budget allocation, and all expenditure to improve financial performance on the center operations and cropping initiatives as part of revenue enhancement and financial turnaround strategies

Procurement

1.7  Procurement

§  Develop terms of reference for identified projects

§  Participate in procurement committees as required

§  Adhere to procurement requirements and deadlines for identified projects

Process Management

1.8  Process Management

§  Ensure that planned intervention for each irrigation schemes are implemented timely within projected timelines

§  Ensure project management processes and policies are applied effectively

§  Ensure that quality tools and methods are used in managing all projects

1.9 OTHER

OTHER

§  The summary description of tasks and activities set out in this Job Description reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility.

§  This Job Description should thus not be considered as an all-inclusive, exhaustive listing of all work requirements.

§  The Development Agency reserves the right to assign employees to perform other duties, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalise peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.