Zambia Sugar Plc. is a subsidiary of Illovo Sugar Africa (Pty) Ltd Group and is the leading sugar producer in Zambia.  Its main activities are the growing of sugar cane, the production and marketing of sugar and other sugar downstream products.

The Company invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the position of Crop Production Manager. The position reports to the Director – Agriculture and operates within the agriculture function.

The successful candidate will be responsible for Provide direction, technical guidance, and leadership in crop production to ensure long-term growth, development and sustainability, Champion and embed the “Illovo Way in sugar cane production” to ensure Illovo is the best-in-class sugar producer in the Country.

Key Performance Areas

• Drive operational excellence by making informed trade-offs and driving initiatives that will deliver greatest possible yields at optimal cost and quality levels.
• Adopt and embed agreed best practices, frameworks, minimum standards, and processes for all aspects of crop production (and removal where relevant)
• With Group CoE’s identify best practices (internal & external) and review policies and procedures to improve yield and financial performance.
• Contribute to reviewing Standards and operating procedures to sustainably improve yield and financial performance.
• Achieve yield forecasts (together with farm supervisors), ensuring that farming (and crop removal where relevant) activities are prioritised and planned in a systematic and cost-effective way to optimise profitability.
• Provide alignment between Crop Production Farms plans and Factory production Crush plans to achieve budget cane volumes and quality in line with S&OP
• Coordinate and approve annual crop production and harvest plans with farm managers, including crop establishment and husbandry across estate.
• Develop, monitor, and manage cane production budget and resource plan, with inputs from farm managers and service departments.
• Drive rigorous performance management, biased towards rewarding strong performance and compliance with critical behaviours, and including managing consequences where required.
• Develop and implement a programme to Identify and address problems and improvement opportunities with Farm Managers
• Identify and implement sustainability initiatives such land and water conservation to prevent soils erosion, soil degradation, pollution, and invasive weeds and to improve water footprint and quality.
• Drive synergies across the group, effectively partnering with Optimisation function and group counterparts to identify, share and embed opportunities for Optimisation.
• Provide input into business cases for key capital projects in Agriculture and support delivery.
• Oversee effective talent and performance management and build a strong leadership team and talent pipeline within crop production, by coaching, mentoring and guiding farm supervisors.
• Identify and monitor KPIs and balanced scorecards, track performance and flag any issues with individuals.
• Promote and adhere to Illovo’s procedures, policies, and guidelines, including, without limitation, those relating to SHERQ, Competition Law and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC).

Minimum specifications / Requirements areas

• Bachelor’s degree / Diploma in Agriculture / Agricultural Development / Agricultural Engineering
• 5-10 years’ experience in sugar cane agriculture, responsible for managing at least 1,000 ha having demonstrated ability to lead and manage outcomes through team members.
• Able to build, develop and manage teams effectively.
• Able to capture, interpret and analyse agricultural performance data (cost, productivity & technical).
• Good business acumen and agricultural expertise, with ability to anticipate, interpret and respond to changes impacting on functional area.