Field Farming Director

Our client, a leading agribusiness organization, is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Director – Field Farming to lead the planning, development, and execution of large-scale commercial farming operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving greenfield agricultural projects, farm expansion initiatives, operational excellence, and sustainable farming practices while ensuring profitability, compliance, and long-term business growth. This role requires a visionary leader with extensive experience in agribusiness, farm development, agronomy, and large-scale agricultural operations. Responsibilities. Develop and execute the company’s field farming strategy in alignment with overall business objectives and growth plans. Lead feasibility studies covering agronomic, climatic, soil, water, environmental, and commercial factors for new farming investments. Build and present investment-grade business cases, including financial models, CAPEX and OPEX projections, ROI analysis, and risk assessments for Board and investor approval. Evaluate land acquisition opportunities, including greenfield developments, leasing arrangements, partnerships, and expansion projects. Oversee the design and development of farm infrastructure, including irrigation systems, machinery requirements, storage facilities, workshops, and utilities. Lead project planning, commissioning, and operational readiness activities for new farming ventures. Establish and implement standard operating procedures for cultivation, planting, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, harvesting, and post-harvest activities. Manage day-to-day farm operations, ensuring productivity, efficiency, and adherence to agronomic best practices. Monitor crop performance, yield forecasts, production costs, and operational KPIs to achieve financial and operational targets. Drive mechanization, automation, and precision agriculture initiatives to improve productivity and reduce operational costs. Implement advanced farming technologies, including GPS-enabled equipment, farm management systems, drones, satellite imaging, and soil monitoring tools. Develop and manage annual budgets, cost controls, and performance reporting for farming operations. Lead cross-functional collaboration with procurement, finance, supply chain, human resources, legal, and strategy teams. Identify opportunities for farm expansion, crop diversification, vertical integration, and business growth. Build and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, community stakeholders, investors, and industry partners. Ensure compliance with agricultural, environmental, labor, land, health, and safety regulations. Establish governance frameworks, risk management systems, and business continuity plans to mitigate operational, climatic, and market risks. Promote sustainability initiatives, including soil conservation, water management, regenerative agriculture, carbon reduction, and ESG best practices. Lead, mentor, and develop farm management teams, agronomists, irrigation specialists, and field supervisors to create a high-performance culture. Prepare and present operational, financial, and strategic reports to senior management, investors, and the Board of Directors. Requirements Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Agribusiness Management, or a related field. Postgraduate qualification in Agribusiness, Operations Management, Strategy, or a related discipline is highly preferred. Minimum 15–20 years of experience in large-scale commercial farming, agribusiness operations, or agricultural project development. Proven experience developing investment-grade business cases and presenting strategic proposals to executive leadership, investors, or Boards. Strong background in greenfield farm development, land acquisition, and multi-site farming operations. Extensive knowledge of crop production systems, agronomy, irrigation, mechanization, and farm engineering. Experience implementing modern agricultural technologies, precision farming solutions, GIS mapping, automation, and data-driven farming practices. Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, CAPEX planning, ROI analysis, and cost optimization. Demonstrated experience leading large multidisciplinary teams in complex agricultural environments. In-depth understanding of agricultural regulations, ESG requirements, sustainability practices, and risk management frameworks. Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, communication, and leadership skills. Proven ability to drive operational excellence, productivity improvement, and long-term business growth. Experience working in multicultural and multi-country agricultural environments will be an added advantage. Fluent in English; knowledge of additional regional languages is advantageous. Willingness to travel extensively across project locations as required.