Agronomist

HEAD OF AGRONOMYRole OverviewRole Title: Head of AgronomyFunction/Department: Agricultural Operations – Banana PlantationReporting Manager: Director – Banana Plantation

Location: East AfricaRecruitment Agency: Reed Specialist RecruitmentRole PurposeThe Head of Agronomy serves as the senior technical authority for banana agronomy and crop productivity across the entire plantation.

This role is accountable for translating crop science into standardized, commercially practical programs that maximize yield, fruit quality, resource-use efficiency, and long-term soil productivity.The position leads agronomic strategy from land preparation and establishment through to mature production. The successful candidate will coordinate crop nutrition, irrigation demand, crop-cycle management, and yield forecasting, while providing essential technical leadership to Farm Managers and agronomic teams to drive productivity, cost efficiency, and profitability.Key Responsibilities1. Agronomic Strategy & Standards (Maximum Sustainable Yield)Develop and own plantation-wide banana agronomy programs, SOPs, and technical standards from initial establishment through to commercial production.Define crop calendars, planting specifications, plant density, crop-cycle practices, bunch management, and yield-management strategies.Ensure agronomic practices are strictly standardized across all farm areas while allowing controlled adaptation to specific soil, water, and microclimate variations.2. Soil, Nutrition & Fertilization (Balanced Crop & Efficient Inputs)Develop comprehensive soil-fertility and fertilization programs based on rigorous soil/leaf analysis, crop demand, yield targets, and local environmental conditions.Coordinate fertilizer and fertigation requirements closely with the Irrigation team, ensuring precise timing, accurate rates, and optimal application methods.Lead the management and mitigation of soil constraints, including drainage issues, salinity/sodicity, pH imbalances, organic matter depletion, and challenging soil structures.3. Irrigation, Crop Water Demand & Climate (Water & Yield Optimization)Define crop water requirements and irrigation criteria by growth stage, working in direct coordination with the Head of Irrigation.Utilize climate data, evapotranspiration (ETo), rainfall records, soil moisture levels, and plant observations to optimize water use and safeguard yields.Identify agronomic implications of flooding, waterlogging, drought, and overall climatic variability, providing strategic recommendations for mitigation.4. Crop Cycle, Yield Forecasting & Field PerformanceLead crop-cycle monitoring, phenology tracking, yield forecasting, and production planning at the specific block level.Analyze productivity trends, bunch characteristics, plant population dynamics, and crop-cycle performance to identify and bridge yield gaps.Develop targeted corrective programs for underperforming areas and rigorously evaluate agronomic trials before wider operational implementation.5. Technical Leadership, Research & Continuous ImprovementLead, train, and develop a high-performing team of agronomists and field technical staff, establishing clear technical accountability.Maintain strategic professional relationships with external technical specialists, laboratories, research institutions, and suppliers.Drive data-driven trials and continuous improvement initiatives focused on crop nutrition, soil management, water efficiency, and advanced production systems.6. Reporting, Compliance & IntegrationProvide technical recommendations and comprehensive agronomic performance reports to the Project Director.Collaborate cross-functionally with Farm Managers, Plant Health, Quality, and Irrigation teams to ensure all production decisions are fully integrated.Ensure all agronomic programs support food safety, export quality, sustainability initiatives, and applicable international certification requirements.