Job Overview
- The company is developing a large-scale industrial new city project in Nigeria, currently in the construction and development stage. A large amount of land requires grass cutting, bush clearing, and tree removal, followed by long-term maintenance. In the future, some undeveloped land will be used for agricultural planting and operations.
- We are recruiting an experienced Agricultural Manager who can work hands-on in the field. This person will be responsible for managing land-clearing teams and agricultural planting operations.
Key Responsibilities
Overall Agricultural Planting Planning and Execution (Primary Responsibility):
- Develop annual/quarterly planting plans (crop selection, crop rotation plans)
- Manage the full planting process, including:
- Land preparation
- Sowing / seedling cultivation
- Fertilization and irrigation
- Pest and disease control
- Growth monitoring
- Harvesting and yield management
- Optimize crop output and agricultural profitability
- Establish standardized planting SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
Agricultural Production System and On-site Management:
- Establish farmland production management systems and operating standards
- Organize agricultural production teams to execute planting plans
- Monitor crop growth quality and yield performance
- Promote demonstration plots / trial fields
- Control production costs and improve input-output ratio
Agricultural Labor Team Management:
- Manage field labor teams (farmers, casual workers, seasonal workers)
- Responsible for recruitment, grouping, scheduling, and attendance tracking
- Establish piece-rate or performance incentive systems
- Manage foreman system
- Resolve labor disputes, conflicts, and discipline issues
Farmland Basic Maintenance:
- Responsible for basic farmland maintenance (weed control, boundary clearing, etc.)
- Ensure stable farming environment in planting areas
- Coordinate the use of basic tools and equipment (brush cutters, farming tools, etc.)
Agricultural Inputs and Cost Control:
- Manage seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs
- Establish inventory and usage tracking system
- Control production cost and reduce waste
- Conduct basic review and planning for procurement
Government and Community Coordination:
- Maintain relationships with local communities and coordinate agriculture-related communication
- Support liaison with relevant agricultural government departments
- Assist in resolving basic coordination issues related to land/farmers
Data Recording and Reporting:
- Prepare agricultural production plans and execution reports
- Submit regular yield, cost, and problem analysis reports
- Record crop growth data and production results
- Support management decision-making and analysis
Basic Background Requirements
- Nigerian local candidate
- Recommended age: 40–50 years old
- (too young may lack authority; too old may lack physical strength/execution ability)
- Education: not strict requirement
- Major in agriculture / agronomy / land management / environmental management / forestry is preferred
- Language:
- Working English communication (must)
- Plus one major local language (Yoruba / Hausa / Igbo)
- Most Critical Experience Requirements (Mandatory)
- Real large-scale farmland / farm management experience
- Minimum 5 years agricultural or farm operations experience
- Experience managing 50–200 seasonal workers/farm laborers is ideal
- Practical planting experience in at least one of the following crops:
- maize, cassava, vegetables, rice, banana, palm, etc.
- Experience in land clearing, land development, or forestry/estate management
- Skilled in grass cutting, tree cutting, bush clearing, drainage trench digging
- Familiar with common Nigerian tools such as:
- cutlass, brush cutter, chainsaw, etc.
- Experience in plantation / estate / large land clearing is a strong advantage
- Must Be Able to Manage People and Deliver Execution
The biggest challenge of this role is that the farming/labor workforce is scattered, undisciplined, often lazy, inefficient, and may cause conflicts.
Therefore, the candidate must have:
- Strong leadership and foreman management ability
- Scheduling, piece-rate payment design, and attendance control ability
- Experience handling injuries, conflicts, theft, etc.
- Ability to establish rules and systems (performance management, rewards/punishments, daily reports, weekly plans)
- Personality Traits (Very Important)
- Strong execution ability, willing to work in the field and supervise on site
- Not afraid of dirt, sun, or conflicts with workers
- Used to working closely with frontline laborers, not an office-based “academic type”
- Principle-driven and authoritative, but not violent/aggressive
- Avoid the Following Candidate Types
- Pure academic/research background (university lecturer, researcher) without team management experience
- NGO agricultural officers who only write reports, PPTs, or project proposals
- Small farm owners (only 5–10 acres)
- People overly dependent on connections and kickbacks (common in Nigeria)
Competency Model:
Land Clearing and Maintenance Capability:
- Able to develop clearing plans: which plots first, manpower required, days needed
- Able to estimate tool requirements, fuel usage, blade replacement, brush cutter maintenance
- Understand safety management (especially chainsaws, brush cutters, and controlled burning risks)
Labor Organization Capability:
- Recruit and manage foremen
- Design piece-rate wage system (per acre / per meter / per truckload, etc.)
- Attendance, discipline, and conflict management
- Control theft, tool loss, and material waste
Agricultural Planting Technical Capability:
- Crop and variety selection
- Basic agronomy: sowing, seedling raising, fertilization, irrigation, pest/disease control
- Harvesting and storage
- Able to run small-scale demonstration plots
Government / Community Coordination Capability:
- Able to communicate with village leaders, land communities, and farmer associations
- Understand local community “sensitive issues.”
- Prevent disputes caused by tree cutting/land clearing
Basic Administration and Reporting Capability:
- Able to write simple English reports
- Able to prepare weekly work plans and cost budgets
- Able to use mobile phone photos to record field progress
- Able to report and coordinate with the Chinese management team
Job Requirements
- Minimum 5 years of agricultural/farm/plantation operations management experience
- Experience in large-scale land clearing, land development, or plantation management preferred
- Experience managing large labor teams (50+ people preferred)
- Able to live on site and adapt to high-intensity outdoor field work
- English + local language
- Strong responsibility, execution ability, and ability to independently solve on-site issues.
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