Career Opportunities: Production Team Leader (1931)

Career Opportunities: Production Team Leader (1931)

Requisition ID 1931 - Posted - Production - Full-Time - South Africa

Fall Creek is creating a world with better blueberries through its friendly, collaborative team spread across the globe. To help us accomplish this, we are seeking a qualified Production Team Leader. This position will be located in Paarl, South Africa.

POSITION SUMMARY:

To lead a small team assigned to a specific work area to ensure that required tasks are correctly executed. The team leader is considered a key enabler within a department and a link between middle management and the core team within the nursery.

ORGANIZATIONAL FIT:

This position will primarily report to the Production Lead. The immediate direct report may change or rotate depending on operational demands in different departments. The team leader’s work teams will consist of permanent and temporary personnel as well as collaborating with other department managers.

JOB SETTING:

Nursery, greenhouse, and/or field environment. May be exposed to weather, insects, bees, dust, pollen, soil/mud, fertilizers, soil additives, and agricultural chemicals.

May use shovels, sprinklers, forklifts, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, shearing machines, spraying equipment, tractors, pots and other containers, carts, box cutters, scissors, pruners, spray bottles, saws, drills, ladders, and miscellaneous hand and power tools.

Work hours may change depending on seasonal requirements. Weekends, public holidays, evenings, and intermittent work may be required.

May have access to restricted or locked areas.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Other duties may be assigned)

1. Under direction, support and manage nursery operations, including but not limited to propagation, plant production, crop maintenance, planting, and packing processes.
2. Monitor and organize all the work of employees within assigned teams.
3. Make impartial decisions regarding scheduling work to employees and teams.
4. Consistently apply work rules to all employees.
5. Notify management of problems or potential issues in a timely manner.
6. Train new employees on company processes, locations, and work standards.
7. Accurately report and record work activity.
8. Assist with time-motion studies as needed.
9. Assist with organizing workflow and work efficiency.
10. Assist with monitoring plant quality by watching for unusual plant appearance, plant diseases or signs of stress, pests, or other potential problems with the crop. Notify management of issues in a timely manner.
11. Perform all work activities and promote work crews to perform work in a safe and efficient manner.
12. Bring potential hazards to the immediate attention of management or the safety committee. Follow all pesticide signage. Immediately report accidents, injuries, and near-misses to management. Enforce the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when completing tasks.
13. Follow the policies according to Fall Creek’s Employee Handbook.
14. Ensure equipment is in proper operating condition and immediately notify the maintenance department if repairs are needed.
15. Follow written directions, such as SAP job lists, etc.
16. Assist employees in performing work by answering questions and demonstrating techniques.
17. Train employees on how to operate equipment and machinery in a safe manner.
18. Monitor and share supplies and resources and notify managers of potential shortages in a timely manner.
19. Assist with keeping work areas and the overall appearance of the nursery clean and organized.
20. Ensure keys and lock codes are protected and used only for business purposes.
21. Demonstrate a willingness to learn new tasks and take on individual responsibilities.
22. Oversee all personnel, including labor contractors, fixed-term contracts, temporary, and permanent employees.
23. Demonstrate respectful communication and interactions with colleagues, subordinates, inter-departmental crew, other team leaders, and managers alike.
24. Motivate employees to do their best work by being positive and offering encouragement.
25. Encourage employees to contribute ideas and suggestions to improve the operation of the nursery.
26. Attend and participate in weekly meetings.
27. Assist with tracking attendance. Ensure break periods start and end on time.
28. Assist with performance reviews as needed.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING:

• Good attendance and work performance at Fall Creek Nursery.
• Extensive knowledge of the company operation, processes, and standards.
• Commitment to safety and maintaining a positive work environment.
• Willingness to learn English. Note: Once an employee is promoted to a team leader position, the employee must demonstrate continual improvement in their English language skills. All team leaders must be able to communicate and understand English to maintain team leader status.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize work.
• Ability to get along and work well with a diverse group of people.
• Knowledge and training in the equipment and machinery used.
• Assures the highest level of confidentiality on sensitive matters concerning the nursery.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of grade 10 – 12.
• Horticultural / plant knowledge.
• National Diploma (Agri) or Relevant Qualification will be an advantage.
• Bilingual and language skills in both English and Afrikaans.
• Previous experience in an agricultural or nursery environment.

Who is Fall Creek? – Please go check out our Website & You Tube Videos

We are a US-based company with a keen focus on blueberry genetics, plants, and grower support delivered to the world’s premier blueberry growers. From our humble beginnings in Lowell, Oregon more than 40 years ago, we now also have our own nurseries in Mexico, Peru, Spain, Netherlands, South Africa, and China. We have built a dynamic team of global experts in various areas of expertise, including the finest breeders, researchers, propagators, nursery professionals, grower support technicians, sales and customer service experts, and more. We’re a deeply planted link in a global chain, ready to serve our customers and our industry throughout North, Central, and South America, Greater Europe, Asia, and South Africa. Our mission is to serve the growers and to support the blueberry industry, helping to ensure growers maximize success through our delivery of the best genetics and plants, technical know-how, and global market intelligence.

To fulfill our mission, we focus on cultivating exceptional plants, building strong relationships, and providing responsive customer service. This is all part of how we’re helping to build A World with Better Blueberries.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.

Fall Creek Farm & Nursery offers a competitive salary and benefit package for this role. This position is office-bound but will require the candidate to be available to work in a nursery setting and/or support the production team over weekends on a rotational basis.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

For consideration, please send the following related documents in support of your application for this role:

• Personal CV/resume (including recent references)
• Copy of ID
• Copy of Qualification & Education Records

** Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All Applications will close by 7 February 2025 and any applications received after this date will not be considered.

Please check or arrange whether you have access to a desktop or electronic device that we would be able to hold a virtual meeting as part of the interview process.