Assistant Farm Manager, Durban

We are seeking a motivated, early-career agriculture graduate who wants to grow quickly and gain hands-on experience across all areas of farm operations. This is an excellent opportunity to develop practical skills while working closely with an experienced Farm Manager in a modern, data-driven farming environment.

Role Overview

This entry-level development role supports the Farm Manager across crop production, irrigation, compliance, labour supervision, packhouse coordination, and administration. The successful candidate will split their time between fieldwork and administrative duties and will be expected to maintain accurate records and complete daily testing.

You will also be trusted to manage farm operations independently for short periods (up to 7 days) when the Farm Manager is away.

Key Responsibilities

Crop and Field Operations

• Coordinate pruning, trellising, scouting, harvesting, and general crop care

• Support planning and execution of weekly work plans

• Monitor plant health and report issues early

Irrigation and Fertigation

• Execute irrigation schedules and maintain logs

• Conduct daily EC/runoff, leaf/petiole, and soil probe testing

• Report trends and recommend adjustments for approval

Pest, Disease and Compliance

• Perform daily scouting for pests and diseases

• Implement spray programmes safely and responsibly

• Maintain accurate spray and compliance records

Labour Supervision

• Allocate daily tasks and support the farm team

• Maintain timesheets and productivity records

• Promote a safe and efficient working environment

Packhouse Coordination

• Align picking volumes with packing requirements

• Assist with packing, dispatch, and stock records

• Resolve discrepancies promptly

Administration (Core Focus)

• Maintain daily records for picking, packing, sales, stock, sprays, irrigation, and labour

• Create approximately one invoice per day using Excel templates

• Ensure full traceability from picking through to sale

• Support general reporting and data accuracy

Requirements

• Diploma or any qualification in Agriculture

• Valid driver's licence

• Fluent English and basic isiZulu

• Comfortable working outdoors and in greenhouse environments

• Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn

Advantageous

• Exposure to tomato production

• Irrigation or fertigation experience

• Farm administration, invoicing, or stock control experience