Farm Manager

Department Description/Departement Beskrywing

Faculty of AgriSciences

Dean's Office

Farm Manager (Post Level 8)

(Welgevallen Experimental Farm, Stellenbosch Campus)

Ref. AW00/405/0926

The Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) is a research-intensive agricultural faculty operating at the intersection of food security, climate resilience and sustainable resource management. Within its Faculty of the Future strategy, the Faculty integrates multidisciplinary teaching, applied research and industry partnerships across the agricultural value chain.

The Farm Manager will provide integrated strategic and operational leadership for Welgevallen Experimental Farm. The incumbent will be accountable for the effective coordination of the farm's teaching, research, demonstration and agricultural production activities, and for ensuring that land, people, finances, infrastructure, equipment and production systems are managed responsibly and sustainably.

The position requires a capable general farm leader who can coordinate a diverse mixed-farm environment and work effectively with enterprise personnel, technical staff, academic departments, and subject specialists. The incumbent will not be expected to act as the sole technical specialist in every production field, but must ensure that appropriate specialist expertise is incorporated into operational planning and decision-making.

Duties/Pligte

• Providing overall operational leadership and accountability for the effective functioning of Welgevallen Experimental Farm.
• Coordinating the day-to-day operation of a mixed-use experimental farm that includes citrus, pome and stone fruit, vineyards or other perennial crops, grain-production systems and livestock.
• Developing integrated annual and seasonal farm plans, production schedules, budgets and resource-allocation plans in consultation with relevant enterprise personnel and technical specialists.
• Coordinating enterprise-specific production activities and ensuring that appropriate technical advice is obtained and implemented where specialist expertise is required.
• Leading and coordinating the phased development, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of a whole-farm regenerative agriculture plan.
• Ensuring that regenerative practices are appropriately integrated with commercial production, experimental design, plant health, animal health, biosecurity and phytosanitary requirements.
• Ensuring the effective management of orchard, vineyard and field-crop programmes, including irrigation, nutrition, canopy or dormancy-related activities, crop protection, integrated pest management, harvesting and post-harvest operational requirements, in consultation with the relevant specialists.
• Coordinating livestock operations and ensuring appropriate animal-health, welfare, grazing and production practices.
• Facilitating teaching, student training, research trials and demonstration activities across multiple academic departments.
• Coordinating farm access, land allocation, trial establishment and operational support for approved teaching and research activities.
• Managing permanent and seasonal farm staff, including work planning, supervision, performance management, skills development and occupational health and safety.
• Managing the farm's operational finances, including budget preparation, expenditure control, procurement inputs, cost monitoring and management reporting, with the support of the relevant Faculty and University financial services.
• Managing farm assets, vehicles, implements, irrigation systems, infrastructure and equipment, including maintenance planning, record keeping, utilisation control and accountability.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable University policies and relevant agricultural, environmental, occupational health and safety, biosecurity and regulatory requirements.
• Maintaining appropriate farm-management, production, asset, financial and compliance records.
• Engaging constructively with academic departments, researchers, Faculty leadership, students and other stakeholders.
• Contributing to the longer-term development of Welgevallen Experimental Farm as an integrated open‑air laboratory supporting the Faculty¿s teaching, research, innovation and industry‑engagement objectives.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• A relevant degree or NQF 7 tertiary qualification in agriculture, agricultural management, horticulture, agronomy, animal production, or a related field.
• Five years' relevant experience in the operational management of a farm or agricultural production environment.
• Demonstrated experience in managing staff and coordinating multidisciplinary operational activities.
• Demonstrated technical competence in at least one agricultural production field, together with sufficient breadth of knowledge to coordinate mixed‑farm operations.
• Experience in operational planning, budgeting, cost control and management reporting.
• Experience in the responsible management of agricultural infrastructure, irrigation, vehicles, equipment and other farm assets.
• An understanding of crop‑production risk, animal health, occupational health and safety, environmental management and relevant compliance requirements.
• The ability to collaborate with technical specialists and translate specialist recommendations into practical farm operations.
• Strong organisational, administrative, communication and stakeholder‑management skills.
• The ability to function effectively in a complex teaching, research and agricultural production environment.
• Competence in digital farm‑management, record‑keeping or precision‑agriculture systems.
• A valid driver's licence.
• The ability to work long hours outdoors in varied and extreme South African weather conditions.
• Willingness to live on the farm property, often requiring flexibility for after‑hours emergencies.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling

• None.

Enquiries/Navrae

Enquiries about this post: Dr MJ Freeborough on 021 808 4802, or at mfree@sun.ac.za

Enquiries about remuneration/benefits and technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre, on 021 808 2753 (Stellenbosch), or 021 938 9636 (Tygerberg), or at sun-e-hr@sun.ac.za

Currency Commencement Date01-Dec-2026 Closing Date27-Oct-2026 Amount of Travel Work At Home

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