Production Manager (Soft Fruit)

Description:

Production Manager (Soft Fruit) Our client, a leading

soft-fruit farm and production

, is looking for a

Production Manager

to join their company/farm based in

Hermanus

.

Location: Hermanus

(Please note that accommodation is

NOT

provided for this position and nor will a housing benefit be provided)

Salary offered:

Market related and negotiable (dependent on experience and suitability of the ideal candidate)

Your mandate: Deliver premium fruit quality and yield by setting the right growth strategy

per crop, per field

and executing it at top productivity.

The opportunityOwn field establishment, crop husbandry, forecasting, harvest readiness, and post-harvest handover to the packhouse. This hands-on leadership role suits a proactive, data-driven manager who can plan ahead, mobilise teams, and hit targets in a fast-moving, labour-intensive environment.

Key Responsibilities:
Field Establishment
• Compile the strategic establishment plan aligned to the Season Production Plan.
• Specify and procure field, plant and material needs to agreed standards.
• Liaise with plant propagation providers to meet grower requirements and timelines.
• Plan, allocate and supervise labour to complete establishment tasks on time and within budget.

Crop Husbandry & Infrastructure
• Build budgets and implement the annual husbandry plan to meet strategic outcomes.
• Adjust husbandry strategy per crop/field based on plant growth and in-field performance.
• Plan and implement infrastructure adjustments to standards and procurement outcomes.
• Set labour outputs and monitor productivity and quality against the Husbandry Plan.

Forecasting & Estimations
• Update and communicate the seasonal profile based on crop performance.
• Provide short-term (weekly/fortnightly) production estimates timeously for operational planning.

Harvest Management
• Produce a rolling

6-week headcount plan

and the annual harvest budget.
• Ensure picking to customer quality specifications to minimise field waste and optimise returns.

Logistics & Support Functions
• Lead the logistics supervisor across: staff transport (bus), sanitation, recycling, cold-store logistics, purchasing/CODs, and stock management for all husbandry and harvest needs.
• Coordinate smooth field-to-packhouse flow and on-time delivery to programmes.

Success looks like
• Field plans delivered on time, within budget, and to specification.
• Accurate, timely forecasts with clear weekly/fortnightly updates.
• High-quality fruit harvested to customer specs with minimal field waste.
• A motivated, well-trained workforce and reliable logistics support.

Requirements:

What you’ll bring (non-negotiable)
•

Tertiary qualification:

Agricultural/Horticultural

management diploma or degree

.
•

3–5 years’

soft-fruit growing/production experience (ideal for a

young, energetic

leader ready to step up).
• Strong

literacy, numeracy, and computer skills

with

excellent report-writing

ability.
•

Valid driver’s licence and own transport.

• Excellent

communication

skills and proven

team leadership

capability.
• Comfortable working to tight targets and deadlines, including

overtime/weekends

when required.