Plant Improvement Officer

Closing Date: 2026-03-13

Closed: Yes

Description:

TopFruit, a leading intellectual property and varietal management company in the deciduous fruit industry, is looking to appoint an experienced and driven Plant Improvement Officer to join their dynamic team, based in Simondium, Paarl. This role requires someone who takes ownership, works independently with accuracy, and maintains a high professional standard while coordinating multiple plant improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated and systematic thinker with sound technical judgement. They should be confident engaging with growers, nurseries, and industry stakeholders.

Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Manage the importation of plant material and oversee quarantine operations in conjunction with DoA
• Oversee TopFruit's foundation nursery and related nursery operations
• Supervise and coordinate the cutting and dispatch of budwood to nurseries
• Coordinate propagation processes of plant material with nurseries for growers
• Prepare documentation and procedures for plant improvement audits
• Build and maintain strong relationships with growers and nurseries
• Represent TopFruit in public and private interest groups
• All other tasks related to the role.

Essential qualifications, skills, and experience:

• Tertiary qualification in Agriculture, preferably in Horticulture;
• 5 years' technical experience in plant improvement, quarantine procedures and/or nursery operations;
• Proficiency in MS Office (specifically Excel);
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Afrikaans;
• Valid driver's license and own reliable transport;
• Willingness to travel nationally.

Please apply online at before 09:00 on 13 March 2026.

For general enquiries, contact our team at M3 Human Capital Management on .

Please note that only shortlisted candidates are contacted. If you don't hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application was unsuccessful.

Please sign-in or register before you can apply for this job