Director: Plant Production at Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

DIRECTOR: PLANT PRODUCTION REF NO: 3/2/1/2022/641
Directorate: Plant Production
Salary: R1 105 383 per annum (Level 13), (all-inclusive package). The package includes a basic salary (70% of package), and a flexible portion that may be structured in accordance with the rules for Senior Management Services (SMS)
Location: Gauteng (Pretoria)

Requirements

  • Successful completion of Pre-entry Certificate for SMS as endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG).
  • Applicants must be in possession of a Grade 12 Certificate and a Bachelor of Science Degree, Bachelor of Technology or Advanced Diploma with majors in either Plant Sciences, Plant Production, Agronomy or Horticulture (NQF Level 7).
  • Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in a middle / senior managerial position.
Job related knowledge:
  • Knowledge and understanding of all relevant legislation and regulations that govern the Public Service including the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) and Treasury Regulations, the Public Service Act, the Labour Relations Act, etc.
  • Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
  • Knowledge of the Plant Improvement Act, 1976.
  • Knowledge of Plant Variety Protection and Plant Breeders Rights Act, 1976.
  • Knowledge of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Stock Remedies and Agricultural Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947).
  • Knowledge of the relevant regional and international agreements and treaties.
  • Knowledge and understanding of government priorities and imperatives.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the white paper on the transformation of the Public Service (Batho Pele).
Job related skills:
  • Strategic capability and leadership skills,
  • Programme and project management skills,
  • Financial management skills,
  • Change management skills,
  • Knowledge management skills,
  • Service delivery innovation skills,
  • Problem solving and analysis skills,
  • People management and empowerment skills,
  • Client orientation and customer focus skills,
  • Communication skills (verbal and written), Honesty and integrity.
  • A valid driver’s licence.
  • Willingness to work extended hours and travel extensively.

Duties & Responsibilities

  •  Manage plant production through the development and implementation of policies, strategies and programmes.
  • Co-ordinate and manage the development of national policies, norms and standards for sustainable plant production.
  • Facilitate the development and implementation of a regulatory framework for policies and legislation.
  • Facilitate and manage the development and implementation of strategies and guidelines for supporting sustainable production system and practices.
  • Co-ordinate and manage the development of national commodity specific programmes for plant production practices in the sector.
  • Facilitate the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation system for programmes, projects, technologies, and other initiatives.
  • Ensure effective administration of the Plant Improvement Act, compliance and accountability to government legislation and regulations.
  • Manage the administration of the Plant Improvement Act.
  • Manage the development and implementation of policies, regulations, strategies, norms and standards to support the administration of the Plant Improvement Act.
  • Facilitate legislative and regulatory amendments for the Plant Improvement Act as applicable.
  • Manage a knowledge and information system for the Plant Improvement Act (including a filing system, updating of relevant webpages, maintenance of registers and publication of variety lists etc).
  • Provide leadership, guidance and advice on relevant and emerging matters within the scope of the Plant Improvement Act.
  • Provide a management system for seed testing services, quality assurance systems and international accreditation.
  • Manage and co-ordinate the provision of effective and efficient laboratory testing services for the regulation of seed exports.
  • Manage the issuance of export certificates to seed companies.
  • Manage and co-ordinate laboratory audits every three years and in order to issue certificates of accreditation by international seed testing associations.
  • Co-ordinate and manage testing of imported seed for quality assurance.
  • Management and co-ordination of effective knowledge and information management systems on plant production, including technical support, advisory services and technology development.
  • Provide technical support on plant production matters to DALRRD priority programmes, value chain roundtables, provincial initiatives, etc.
  • Render technical support on plant production matters to public-private partnerships between DALRRD and the private sector as well as other stakeholders.
  • Manage and support research and technology development programmes on plant production.
  • Co-ordinate education and awareness programmes on plant production and related matters.
  • Liaise with national, regional and international stakeholders and partners on plant production and related matters.
  • Respond to queries from clients, stakeholders, media, parliamentary committees and interest groups.
  • Provide advice and support to senior management on plant production matters.
  • Manage collaborations with relevant partner institutions, including entering into memorandum of understanding (MoU), Letter of Authorization (LOA) and Service Level Agreement (SLA).
  • Represent the Department at appropriate stakeholder fora.
  • Provide support and inputs to other government initiatives relating to plant production practices.
  • Provide advice to African Countries, Southern African Development Community (SADC) on bilateral agreements in terms of developing the agriculture sector.
  • Manage the resources of the Directorate.
  • Develop the operational plan for the Directorate and ensure its implementation.
  • Allocate and manage resources at functional levels to ensure the delivery on set targets for the Directorate.
  • Develop solutions to technical challenges.
  • Conduct financial planning and account for allocated budget.
  • Interpret the Branch’s business strategy and how priority actions should contribute to it from the perspective of the Directorate.
  • Ensure adherence to policy and statutory directives relevant to the functional terrain of the Directorate.
  • Monitor, evaluate and report on the performance of the Directorate.
  • Manage client relations.
  • Ensure the management and development of human resources.


Enquiries
: Dr J Jaftha Tel No: (012) 319 6536

How to Apply for Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Vacancies

Applications can be submitted by post to: Private Bag X833, Pretoria, 0001 or
hand delivered during office hours to: 184 Jeff Masemola Street (formerly known as Jacob Mare), corner of Jeff Masemola and Paul Kruger Streets, Pretoria or to Agriculture Place, 20 Steve Biko (formerly Beatrix) Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0001.

Closing Date: 05 December 2022 at 16:00

The application must include only completed and signed new Z83 Form,
obtainable from any Public Service Department or on the DPSA web site link: https://www.dpsa.gov.za/newsroom/psvc/ and a detailed Curriculum Vitae. Certified copies of Identity Document, Grade 12 Certificate and the highest required qualifications as well as a driver’s licence where necessary, will only be submitted by shortlisted candidates to Human Resources on or before the day of the interview date. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

Foreign qualifications must be accompanied by an evaluation report issued by SAQA. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have all foreign qualifications evaluated by SAQA and to provide proof of such evaluation report (only when shortlisted).

The requirements for appointment at SMS level include the successful completion of the Senior Management Pre-entry Programme as endorsed by the NSG. Prior to appointment, a candidate would be required to complete the Nyukela Programme: Pre-entry Certificate to Senior Management Services as endorsed by DPSA which is an online course, endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG). The course is available at the NSG under the name Certificate for entry into the SMS and the full details can be sourced by the following link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course/sms-pre-entry-programme/. No appointment will take place without the successful completion of the pre-entry certificate and submission of proof thereof.

All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to a technical exercise that intends to test relevant technical elements of the job, the logistics of which will be communicated by the Department. Following the interview and technical exercise, the selection panel will recommend candidates to attend a generic managerial competency assessment in compliance with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Directive on the Implementation of Competency Based Assessments. The competency assessment will be testing generic managerial competencies using the mandated DPSA SMS competency assessment tools.

Applications: Please ensure that you submit your application before the closing date as no late applications will be considered. If you apply for more than 1 post, please submit separate applications for each post that you apply for.

Due to the large number of applications we envisage to receive, applications will not be acknowledged. Should you not be contacted within 3 months of the closing date of the advertisement, please consider your application to be unsuccessful. Should, during any stage of the recruitment process, a moratorium be placed on the filling of posts or the Department is affected by any process such as, but not limited to, restructuring or reorganisation of posts, the Department reserves the right to cancel the recruitment process and re-advertise the post at any time in the future.

Important: DALRRD is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. It is our intention to promote representivity in DALRRD through the filling of posts. The Department reserves the right not to fill a position. Shortlisted candidates will be required to be available for assessments and interviews at a date and time as determined by the Department. All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to personnel suitability checks. The successful candidate will be subjected to undergo security vetting. DALRRD will conduct reference checks which may include social media profiles of the shortlisted candidates.

Applicants must declare any pending criminal, disciplinary or any other allegations or investigations against them. Should this be uncovered during / after the interview took place, the application will not be considered and in the unlikely event that the person has been appointed such appointment will be terminated. The successful candidate will be appointed subject to positive results of the security clearance process. The successful candidate will be required to enter into an employment contract and sign a performance agreement with the Department. All applicants are required to declare any conflict or perceived conflict of interest, to disclose memberships of Boards and directorships that they may be associated with.