Farm Manager - Horticulture - Nanyuki at RAFODE

We are looking for an experienced Farm Manager. If you have the passion, experience & skills to manage a horticulture farm in Laikipia County, near Nanyuki, submit your application as soon as possible. The farm currently focuses on French beans and onions, with possibility for other crops in the future.

This is a hands on position that involves instructing and supervising farm hands and inspecting and carrying out work in areas such as: 

• preparing fields for planting; 
• planting; 
• irrigating, applying herbicides and insecticides; 
• checking soil moisture, weed and insect infestations; 
• harvesting and transporting the crop

The farm manager will be expected to manage the farm proactively and ensure excellent financial returns, liaising with the directors. Key expected results: high per acre yields of quality farm produce at an economical cost. The directors will discuss a commission based package with the farm manager. 

Farm Location: 30 minutes from Nanyuki town

Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for the management of all the operations of the farm both technically and administratively, ensuring timely and rational decision making. These include and are not limited to: Develop and implement optimal farm plans; Labour management; Crop nutrition; Prevention and management of crop diseases and other threats; Water management; Community relations; Harvest and post-harvest management and sales; Inventory management;  Train and supervise staff;
• Responsible for setting performance targets and goals for the farm in consultation with the directors, and work to ensure targets are met;
• Provide technical and administrative guidance to all the staff in the farm for the attainment of the goals of the farm; 
• Ensure there are adequate inputs and that machinery and tools to be used are in good condition;
• Ensure safety in all staff operations through adherence to safety regulations when carrying out farm operations;
• Prepare regular financial and administrative reports and discuss the same with the directors.
• Maintain regular communication with the directors on farm related issues, to ensure quality and timeliness of decisions and actions.

Personal Qualities

• Horticulture management experience
• Leadership Skills (able to supervise a team of more than 20 workers)
• Practical down to earth philosophy ie able to spend lots of time in the farm with the other workers, ensuring effective execution of farm activities. 
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Analytical & problem-solving skills
• Team Player
• Self – driven and innovative

Qualifications for the Farm Manager Job

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Agriculture / Business Administration
• Good in record keeping
• At least 3 years practical experience undertaking similar roles. We are looking for experience not academics. 
• Must be computer literate.