Introduction to the VKB Group

The VKB Group is an agricultural company, providing support to farmers and producing straight-from-the farm-foods for consumers. Apart from the various consumer brands, the VKB Group is also represented by its regional brands: VKB, GWK and NTK. Our roots are firmly planted in agriculture with farming at our core, continuously growing and evolving throughout the years.

Starting with providing everything needed on the farm to produce food, we now also operate in all areas of the food supply chain: processing, logistics, and national and global market channels.

This “house of brands” we’ve established with the support of our farmer shareholders is the foundation for building the agribusiness of the future.

Our purpose

Touch lives – for the better: We always aim to make a positive impact in people’s lives: our employees, producers, clients, communities and the larger industry. And, through collaboration with this group of people, we strive to make an even bigger and longer lasting impact in the lives of all South Africans.

Values

We live by five important values:

We are HUMBLE

We acknowledge that we are blessed

We are HUNGRY

We do not settle for mediocre

We are BOLD

We do what is right, even if it scares us

We are SMART

We consider our words and actions

We are TEAM PLAYERS

No-one can do this alone

Our legacy

For the Love of the Land: We do it all for our legacy and the love of nature, people, country, sustainability and progress.

About:  Pecans

Pecans is a company taking the lead in creating opportunities for farmers to manage their product throughout the pecan value chain. Our reputation for trust and quality enables us to provide the best to our farmers, while supplying high-quality pecan nuts to the international market.

Pecans is Looking For:

A visionary, results-driven leader to take the helm of our pecan nut business. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of agricultural markets, operational efficiencies, financial management, and people management. This individual will guide the company to greater heights by fostering strong producer relationships, optimizing processes, and aligning the business with future industry trends.

• Requirements
• Education:
  • Relevant tertiary qualification in Agriculture, Business Management, or a related field (postgraduate qualifications preferred).
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 10 years in a senior leadership role, preferably in the agricultural or food production sector.
  • Proven track record of optimizing operational processes and leading high-performance teams.
• Technical and soft skills:
  • Strong understanding of international agricultural and forex markets and hedging mechanisms.
  • Experience in process optimization and technological integration within a production environment.
  • Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong problem-solving abilities with a strategic mindset.
  • Excellent communication skills to engage effectively with internal teams, producers, and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Producer Relations and Financial Oversight

• Serve as the primary contact for producers, providing guidance on exchange rate hedging and administrative processes.
• Communicate pricing policies and market trends to producers.
• Ensure annual financial goals, including budgets and market share targets (producers and consumers), are established and approved by the Board.
• Monitor and optimize all revenues, margins, and costs against approved budgets or projections, identifying areas requiring corrective action.
• Distinguish between factors within and outside the company’s control, implementing corrective measures as needed.

Operational and Process Management

• Oversee and ensure optimal functioning of all internal processes and departments, including product processing, procurement, and marketing
• Identify and address underperforming areas, optimizing processes for efficiency and quality.
• Ensure departmental collaboration to meet production and market demands.

Leadership and Team Development

• Develop an agile organizational structure and align staff with company goals and strategies.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance work environment.

Strategic Alignment

• Align the company with three- and five-year trends in the global pecan industry and market dynamics through scenario modelling. Develop and implement proactive actions to manage these scenarios and their expected outcomes effectively.
• Evaluate the company’s capacity and geographic footprint relative to the industry and expected production growth to ensure optimal operations.
• Strengthen technological infrastructure and human resources to meet evolving market challenges.
• Build trust with stakeholders by increasing market share among producers and buyers annually, securing shareholder returns and confidence.

Skills and Attributes

• Strategic Vision: Ability to align the company with long-term industry trends and market opportunities.
• Operational Excellence: Expertise in driving efficiency and process improvements across departments.
• People Management: Proven capability to lead, inspire, and develop diverse teams.
• Market Knowledge: Deep understanding of the pecan nut industry and associated market dynamics.

Why Join VKB Group of Companies?

At VKB, we pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and fostering long-term relationships with producers and stakeholders. As Managing Director: GWK Pecans, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the industry and driving growth in one of South Africa’s most dynamic agricultural sectors.

Other Information

• The company can expire jobs at any time at their own discretion.
• VKB Group and/or its subsidiary companies will use any personal data collected through the job opportunities section of this website for recruitment purposes only and, should your application be successful, for purposes connected with your employment.
• VKB Group is an equal opportunity employer. VKB Group’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to VKB Group’s Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. VKB Group actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities
• Things to take note of when applying through our Career Portal.
• Use Google Chrome when accessing the portal
• Clear copy of your CV in either PDF or Word
• The CV should not have handwriting on the document
• NB! Only Submit your CV on the Upload CV section of the application form and not a PDF that includes other documents such as ID, Driver’s License and other documents. The application form will make provision for the candidate to upload supporting documents.
• When uploading profile picture, make sure the minimum size uploaded is 300 x 300px