Potato Procurement Manager

Position Title: Potato Procurement Manager

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Requisition ID:41174

Purpose of Job:

Providing operational leadership management and strategy to the Agricultural Potato team to ensure it provides the appropriate volumes of raw material to the processing plant in accordance with the Integrated Business Plan (IBP) at the appropriate time variety price and quality.

Key Performance Areas:

Potato Procurement/Supply and Raw Material Intake (RMI) Strategy development implementation and operational planning and execution.

• Develop and implement appropriate and effective short and medium term Potato/Sweet potato Procurement/Supply and Raw Material Intake (RMI) plan to execute Potato Procurement/Supply and RMI strategy in order to optimize the Functions ability to provide raw material at the appropriate time quantity cost and quality to the Processing Plant.
• Ensure volume security.
• Ensure necessary variety splits.
• Improve Independent Grower Relationships to ensure McCain Foods remains their processor of choice.
• Encourage New Independent Growers to plant and grow crops for McCain Foods which meet quantity quality date and cost requirements.
• Advise the McCain Extension Services in their negotiations with Independent Growers for raw material.
• Ensure the Raw Material Intake Function operates optimally and effectively.
• Ensure that Potato crops are planted and sourced in optimal areas to mitigate inclement weather and disease hazards.
• Source the required volumes and varieties of potato and at the required price.
• Provide potato table varieties to meet contingency events.

Commercial/Financial

• Ensure the Potato Procurement/Supply and RMI Function as well as operates optimally and in accordance with its Budgets.
• Good understanding of the impact of different commercial scenarios on key decisions and the total value chain.
• Develop and implement appropriate and effective SCA strategies and operational plans to a) reduce overhead costs without impairing the functions effectiveness; b) reduce direct costs to be in line with actual processing yield; drive CSA savings.

Grower base management

• Visit growers regularly and build and maintain relationships.
• Reduce grower base from over 120 (3 720 ha in F22) to 65 (5 500ha).
• Improve Independent Grower Relationships to ensure McCain Foods remains their processor of choice.
• Encourage New Independent Growers to plant and grow crops for McCain Foods which meet quantity quality date and cost requirements.
• Support Agronomy to provide New and Fit for Purpose Potato Potato Seed and crop varieties resulting in increased yields and reduced costs.
• Support Improvement of crop yields and reduce costs at Own and Independent Growers through advising on and implementing improved farming practices.
• Ensure that Potato crops are planted and sourced in optimal areas to mitigate inclement weather and disease hazards.
• Source the required volumes and varieties of potato and at the required price.
• Provide potato table varieties to meet contingency events.
• Conduct six farmers day events.
• Create and maintain planning of grower supply matrix.
• Develop a sustainable agriculture agenda assessing farm efficiency and cost of production to drive and sustain continuous improvement.
• Develop and grow grower base and grower relationships to ensure McCain Foods remains their customer of choice.
• Assist and negotiation process with growers and advise the McCain Extension Services in their negotiations with Independent Growers for raw material.
• Ensure that Potato and Sweet Potato crops are planted and sourced in optimal areas to mitigate inclement weather and disease hazards;
• Source the required volumes and varieties of potato and at the required price.
• Provide non-processing varieties to meet contingency events.

Compliance and Transformation

Develop and implement appropriate and effective strategies and operational plans to:

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements relating to the procurement storage and distribution of raw material for the Processing Plant.
• Ensure the appropriate Quality Assurance policies procedures and systems are developed implemented and adhered to by both Independent and own Growers.
• Promote and advance the compliance of McCain Foods to the appropriate Labour Legislation and BBBEE Codes.
• Ensure SOPs are up to date and adhered to.

Safety

• Safety report. T.R.I.R below target of 0.40 and all Incidents investigated.
• BOS scores.
• Good Catches score.

Operational management of Field Services Function and Extension Service function

• The Field Services Function is responsible for negotiating and contracting the required volume and quality of Raw Material to meet demand and production requirements
• Provide technical support to field officers and growers.
• Manage and implement the potato production plan.

Manage Raw Material Intake and storage Functions to ensure that the quality of incoming potatoes are preserved through intake and storage practices to ensure a reliable supply of the right quality and variety to meet production requirements.

• Manage RMI intake plan.
• Supply the Processing Plant with raw material at the appropriate time quantity cost and quality.
• Ensure the Raw Material Intake Function operates optimally.
• Manage potato quality sampling and grading processes improve efficiency.
• Manage potato storage effectively and efficiently.

• Utilize on-site storage effectively and efficiently to minimize RAW shortages.

Leadership

• Ability to lead Extension Services and Raw Material Intake to achieve goals and objectives.
• Developing a strong bunch of talent and succession.
• Keep team positive and always motivated.
• Encourage teamwork and create a team who trust each other.

• Communicate appropriately and effectively both downwards and upwards.

Job Holder Requirements:

• Education: Degree in Agricultural Sciences/Economics or Commerce or other appropriate tertiary qualification.
  Post graduate qualification in Agriculture or Commerce advantageous.
• Certificates: Licenses: AVCASA BASOS (FSSA)
• Experience:Minimum of 8 years experience in the agricultural commercial sector 5 years experience in raw material potato procurement/supply/logistics.
• Meaningful exposure to commercial farming or processing of agricultural products.
• Practical applications of AVCASA BASOS (FSSA) and irrigation scheduling.
• Competent in Microsoft office (Excel Power Point & Word) and SAP.
• Excellent negotiations skills required with farmers seed companies and market agents.
• Excellent people management skills.
• knowledge/experience of the processing of potato/sweet potato varieties quality and processing capability.
• Experience/knowledge in and the management of health and safety requirements.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity resilience and success and makes our business qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race religion color national origin sex age veteran status disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms) please let us knowand we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

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Job Family:Agriculture
Division:South Africa
Department:Delmas Agriculture Potato Procurement
Location(s): ZA - South Africa : Mpumalanga : Delmas

Company:McCain Foods (S Africa)