Job Opportunities at McCain Foods

This programme is primarily aimed at new entrants to the world of work who recently obtained an academic qualification geared towards providing and developing recent graduates. The programme consists of eight online training modules that will span over a period of 12 months. Commencing from May 2023 to end April 2024. We will take in a number of Graduates in various functions on this programme.

Graduates will be required to be based at the site where the specific vacancy is advertised for the duration of the Graduate Development programme. The program offers Graduates the opportunity to gain experience in a complex, multinational FMCG business with an integrated supply chain including agriculture, manufacturing, logistics & distribution, and sales & marketing.

The program will cover leadership and personal development as well as practical exposure to projects, including the day to day operations of this family owned business.

Kindly apply under the relevant graduate position on our careers website. Applications that are not in the relevant position will not be considered.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be a South African Citizen
• Must demonstrate that you have graduated and/or completed your degree and/or diploma (in the fields as listed in the advert)
• Must achieve a combined aggregate of 65% or higher
• Must not be part of an Internship or Graduate programme OR have previously partaken in an Internship or Graduate programme.
• Good Communication skills
   

DOCUMENTS TO ATTACH:

•     Updated CV in PDF format
• Certified copies of ID
• Certified copies of qualification
• Certified copies of your most recent academic results/record and/or academic manuscript
• Confirmation that you are unemployed. (Please note that successful candidates will be required to undersign an affidavit confirming that you are unemployed)

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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 growers and documented (follow SOP).
• 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 Grower.
• Insuring growers are Global or McCain GAP compliant.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

RAW Volume delivery

• Build and maintain strong relationship with current growers and develop grower base.
• Do planting and harvesting schedule for the Loskop region according to production capacity and requirement.
• Contract the required crop volumes
•  Monitor crop/field to advise the grower on corrective action.

Delivery Cost

• Minimize expensive buy out by ensuring contracted crop materializes

Yield increase

• Together with the Agronomy team work closely in developing improved varieties.
• Implementation and upkeep of McCain agricultural technologies.(irrigation probes, NDVI maps, Drones & precision farming)
• Educate growers through grower information days.

Quality measurement /improvement of raw material quality

• Monitor crop/fields regularly in order to advise and give technical support to the grower.
• Educate growers through grower information days.
• Develop relationship with local crop protection companies to collaborate and ensure corrective action
• Keep current grower base (crop specific) updated on current challenges and possible solution.

McCain GAP compliance

• Inform growers off the GAP compliant requirement.
• Guide and assist grower with required information and procedure to prepare for Audit.
• Obtain GAP certificates and monitor the grower base compliance.

 REQUIREMENTS:

• Matric / Grade 12
• Diploma/ Degree in Agriculture, Agronomy (Crop Science) at NQF level 6
• Minimum 5 years’ agricultural advisory experience
   

CERTIFICATES/LICENSES:

• BASOS & AVCASA
• Valid Driver’s License (CODE E)
   

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• 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 people
• Computer literacy essential
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Must be competent in crop planning, scheduling and execution.