Trainee Planter Program - Tea Factory Operations & Manufacturing

Role Overview

This role is designed for a future leader in plantation management, working directly with estate teams to oversee day-to-day field operations, crop monitoring, and worker coordination. The position acts as a bridge between senior management and ground-level staff, ensuring productivity targets are met while maintaining strong team morale. Success here means contributing to the estate's yield goals while developing the practical leadership skills needed to advance into higher management.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise daily field activities including harvesting, pruning, fertiliser application, and pest control, ensuring all tasks follow established agronomic schedules.
• Maintain accurate records of crop yields, input usage, labour allocation, and weather conditions, then report findings to the estate manager.
• Lead, motivate, and coordinate teams of field workers, addressing attendance, productivity, and safety concerns in real time.
• Conduct regular field inspections to identify issues such as disease outbreaks, drainage problems, or substandard work quality, and propose corrective actions.
• Assist in planning short-term labour requirements, material orders, and equipment needs to keep operations running smoothly.
• Facilitate communication between management and Tamil- or Sinhala-speaking workers, translating instructions and feedback as needed.
• Participate in training sessions on best practices in plantation management, safety protocols, and sustainable agriculture techniques.
• Support the implementation of company policies on environmental compliance, welfare standards, and quality control across the estate.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Degree in Agriculture, Botany, Environmental Science, or a related field is preferred; alternatively, A/L qualifications combined with NIPM Plantations Management Course certification will be considered an advantage.
• Demonstrated leadership potential through prior team management, student organisations, or volunteer roles.
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written) for reporting, coordination, and communication with senior staff.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a high attention to detail, enabling proactive identification of field issues.
• Proven ability to coordinate teams effectively, resolve conflicts, and maintain discipline in a workplace setting.
• Ability to communicate in Sinhala and/or Tamil is a distinct advantage, as daily interaction with local field workers requires fluency in one or both languages.