Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the position of GIS Lead. The position reports to the Agriculture Director and operates within the agriculture function.

The successful candidate will be responsible for Developing, maintaining, governing and supporting Geographic Information System (GIS), systems capability across Illovo Agricultural operations for the functioning of agriculture operations across the group, in accordance with business system standards and thus ensure Illovo is the best-in-class sugar producer in the Country.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Develop, maintain and support GIS capability across Illovo Agricultural operations. Key enabling support required for:
• Variable rate technologies
• Drone imagery processing and analytics
• Controlled traffic and auto-steer technology
• Agtech spatial data management
• Proactive Technical engagement with third-party platforms, data sources, sites and group functions to ensure streamlined integration of spatial data:
• Close collaboration required with Business Systems Manager, Agronomy and Production Specialist and Farming Systems & Innovation Manager
• Strive for high quality, zero-defect spatial data storage and analytical methodologies, with a continuous view of analytical improvement opportunities
• Support in-country L&D teams to develop GIS skills and application capability across the group
• Decide approach to maintain, govern and support functioning of SAP, CanePro, Genstat, Geographic Information System (GIS) systems
• Decide processes to ensure accurate and comparable data in both Estate and Grower Agricultural information systems
• Set standards of the Illovo Business Information System (IBIS) across operations
• Decide on data driven decisions to improve Agriculture growth
• Maintain, govern and support functioning of Geographic Information System (GIS) systems for agriculture operations across the group, in accordance with business system standards
• Develop and continuously update specifications and contract outsourced GIS consultancy and software
• Develop and support GIS skills development in-country in coordination with each L&D team
• Integrate spatial data from multiple sources across the business
• Develop and adhere to agricultural processes and standards of the Illovo Business Information System (IBIS) across operations
• Work with Business Systems Manager to facilitate appropriate hardware and software plans, implementation and communication systems between estates and Group IT for CanePro, GIS and new technology
• Develop and implement processes to ensure accurate and comparable data in both Estate and Grower Agricultural GISs (e.g. perform sense-checks to detect anomalies)
• Maintain a view of outsourcing opportunities for systems development / management, and manage partners (if applicable)
• Promote and adhere to Illovo SHERQ procedure, policy and guidelines

Minimum specifications / Requirements areas

• Grade 12 Certificate
• Bachelor’s Degree in GIS / Land Surveying
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience with GIS / Land Surveying
• Must possess working skills in: GIS, land surveying, drone pilot, agricultural machine control, computer programming, database management software, systems integration and agriculture information analysis, and SAP.