Overview
Location: South Omo, Ethiopia (near Turmi Town)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Commercial Agriculture
Reporting To: Managing Director / Founder
We are hiring!!
Our client is a growing agri-business venture based in Ethiopia, currently developing a large-scale commercial tropical fruit farm focused on the cultivation of banana, watermelon, citrus (orange and lime) for domestic and export markets. They seek an experienced Farm Manager with a strong background in structured agricultural operations to lead and oversee all aspects of crop production, from seedling to post-harvest handling.
Role Summary:
The Farm Manager will be responsible for end-to-end agricultural operations — from nursery and field production to irrigation, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and overall farm planning and management. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of technical expertise, people leadership, agricultural professionalism, and experience in structured farm systems, with the ability to establish procedures and SOPs for efficient operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Nursery Management & Plant Husbandry
- Plan and oversee seedling nursery operations for bananas, citrus fruits, and watermelon.
- Ensure seedling health, nutrition, pest/disease control, and transplant readiness.
Field Production Operations
- Oversee land preparation, soil testing, layout planning, and crop rotation.
- Manage the entire lifecycle from planting, crop care, fertilization, to harvesting.
- Monitor crop health and implement best practices in IPM (Integrated Pest Management).
Irrigation Management
- Supervise the setup and maintenance of drip irrigation systems.
- Optimize water usage through irrigation scheduling and system monitoring.
Post-Harvest Operations
- Design and oversee systems for sorting, cleaning, packaging, and display preparation.
- Ensure hygiene, quality control, and readiness for market or transport.
Agricultural Machinery & Tools
- Manage and maintain farm machinery and equipment (tractors, sprayers, irrigation systems).
- Create maintenance schedules, track usage, and ensure safety standards.
Farm Planning, Organization & Monitoring
- Develop comprehensive weekly/monthly farm work plans and timelines.
- Define input schedules, labour needs, harvesting timelines, and resource use.
- Implement monitoring & evaluation (M&E) systems to assess performance and outcomes.
Human Resources & Training
- Recruit, train, and supervise farm workers across departments.
- Implement training programs on safety, standard operating procedures, and technical skills.
- Foster a culture of accountability, discipline, and professionalism.
Structuring & Standardization
- Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and farm operation manuals.
- Introduce data-driven decision-making and reporting systems.
- Ensure compliance with local agricultural regulations and export standards.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, or related field.
- 5+ years’ experience in managing medium to large-scale commercial farms, preferably tropical fruit farms.
- Proven track record in irrigation management, especially drip systems.
- Strong understanding of post-harvest processes and quality standards.
- Proficient in farm planning, M&E tools, budgeting, and input scheduling.
- Experience creating SOPs and establishing structured operational systems.
- Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Familiarity with Ethiopian agricultural conditions is an added advantage.
Conditions:
- Accommodation & transport support will be provided.
- Must be willing to relocate and live on-site for extended periods.
How to Apply: Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their CV at [email protected] with subject line “Farm Manager”.
