Divisional Manager - Horticulture

Role Overview

This is a hands-on operational leadership position for the Horticulture West Division, reporting directly to the General Manager – Horticulture. You will be out in the orchards and across the estate every day, directing field teams, machinery and resources so that avocado production, fruit quality and cost control all land where they need to be. Your decisions shape whether the division finishes the season on budget and with produce that meets the standards of the export market — which makes this role central to the company's commercial reputation and bottom line.

Key Responsibilities

• Run the day-to-day operations of the division's avocado orchards and surrounding estate, setting clear priorities for supervisors and field staff against the seasonal agronomic calendar.
• Own the production plan: drive yield-per-hectare and pack-out quality, and respond quickly to changing conditions such as weather, pest pressure and labour availability.
• Plan and supervise the use of people, tractors, irrigation systems and other estate assets, scheduling maintenance so that equipment downtime never interrupts critical field work.
• Prepare and manage the divisional operating budget, track expenditure against it, and build well-reasoned proposals for capital projects and improvements.
• Lead, coach and manage the performance of supervisors and general workers — from training and target-setting to disciplinary processes and day-to-day communication.
• Champion labour welfare and estate infrastructure, including worker housing, and make sure environmental programmes satisfy internal policy, audit and governance requirements.
• Promote a strong health and safety culture across every site and task, with accurate records that stand up to external and internal audits.
• Track operational data, prepare clear reports for the General Manager – Horticulture, and identify practical improvements that raise productivity or reduce waste season after season.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness or a closely related field.
• At least five years of practical, field-based experience in crop husbandry; commercial orchard management experience is a distinct advantage.
• A minimum of two years in an Assistant Manager role or equivalent, with proven responsibility for supervising people and operations.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare budgets, control spending and manage financial performance at an operational level.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, with the confidence to communicate across diverse teams and handle sensitive labour matters fairly.
• Solid planning and analytical capability — able to interpret production and cost data and turn it into decisive action.
• A genuinely hands-on style: comfortable being in the field, inspecting work personally and holding teams to high standards of execution.

What We Offer / Why Join

This is a senior operational appointment with real accountability. You will have the scope to shape how a large avocado division performs across the full season, while working closely with the General Manager – Horticulture on the strategic decisions that determine the company's direction. It is an ideal next step for a seasoned horticulture professional who wants to combine orchard agronomy with commercial and people management — and to build a proven track record in one of East Africa's most demanding agricultural sectors.