UPOT, a market leader in vegetable seed development, -improvement, and -production, is seeking an Operational Manager to join their small team based in Ceres, Western Cape. This role forms part of the management team, but has a hands-on focus on daily seed production activities to ensure top-quality seeds are delivered to growers throughout South Africa and new international markets. The ideal candidate is an ambitious and entrepreneurial individual who is willing to be practically involved in daily production- and variety breeding activities, as well actively contribute and take ownership in the long-term growth of the business. In addition to playing a strategic role in the business, the Operational Manager will be responsible to: Provide advisory services to producers Develop and implement effective production practices and processes Develop new cultivars and continuously improve existing ones Drive and support sales Support the development of the expansion into the international market Coordinate with external production and distribution partners. Over time, it will be expected of the candidate to become involved in overall management of the business. Essential qualifications, skills, and experience: Relevant tertiary qualification; Experience in vegetable seed production; Commercial business experience will be highly beneficial; Excellent communication skills in both Afrikaans and English, with the ability to convey technical information to producers; Willingness to travel both locally across South Africa as well as internationally; Valid drivers license and reliable personal transport. If you are a hands-on leader with a passion for seed production and innovation, as well as an unwavering commitment to excellence, we would love to hear from you Starting date: Feb/March 2025. Please apply online at www.m3online.co.za before 09:00 on 21 November 2024. For general enquiries, contact our team at M3 Human Capital Management on XXX-XXXX. Please note that only shortlisted candidates are contacted. If you dont hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application was unsuccessful.