Grower Services & Development Lead – Zimbabwe
from 🇿🇦 South Africa
About the Opportunity
We are looking for a Grower Services & Development Lead based in Zimbabwe to strengthen and expand our grower network across the region. Please note: this role is fully based in Zimbabwe, requiring a strong on-the-ground presence and close collaboration with local growers. This is not a South Africa-based position, despite what may be indicated in some systems.In this position, you will represent Driscoll’s locally, building trusted relationships with existing growers while identifying and developing new partnerships. You will play a key role in connecting growers with internal teams, ensuring alignment on quality, production, and market requirements.
Responsibilities
In this role, you will be at the heart of our operations in Zimbabwe, working closely with growers, partners, and internal teams to drive performance and long-term growth. Your focus will be on building strong relationships, identifying new opportunities, and ensuring alignment between production, quality, and market needs through a hands-on, field-based approach.
Grower Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with existing growers
- Act as a consistent and credible presence on farms and in packhouses
- Represent Driscoll’s standards, values, and long-term commitment
Grower Development & Expansion
- Identify and develop new grower partnerships within Zimbabwe
- Leverage your local network to source and assess opportunities
- Evaluate technical capabilities, infrastructure, and business alignment
- Provide clear recommendations to regional leadership
Field Insight & Communication
- Spend significant time in the field, understanding crop progress and challenges
- Provide timely updates on yield expectations, quality, and risks
- Proactively identify issues and support practical solutions
- Collaborate closely with supply chain and commercial teams
Production & Post-Harvest Alignment
- Support growers in meeting production and quality standards
- Drive improvements in post-harvest handling and export readiness
- Align grower output with packaging plans and market requirements
Seasonal Coordination & Operations
- Support alignment between grower supply and commercial demand
- Assist with issue resolution during peak export periods
- Coordinate operational requirements such as agreements, compliance, and grower support
Continuous Improvement & Collaboration
- Contribute to projects focused on efficiency, innovation, and sustainability
- Work closely with agronomy, quality control, and operations teams
- Act as a key link between growers and internal stakeholders
Candidate Profile
Your Impact
As Grower Services & Development Lead, you will be a key driver of our growth strategy in Zimbabwe. You will strengthen grower engagement, improve visibility across production cycles, and support the sustainable expansion of our grower base in the region.
What You Bring
You are a proactive and relationship-driven professional with a strong connection to the Zimbabwean agricultural sector. Combining technical understanding with commercial awareness, you bring the ability to build trust, identify opportunities, and translate field insights into practical actions that support both growers and business success.
- A degree in Agriculture or a related field (preferred)
- Experience in horticulture or commercial agriculture (berries experience is a strong advantage)
- A strong network within the Zimbabwean agricultural sector
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively within Zimbabwe
- Ability to travel internationally when required
- A hands-on, proactive, and opportunity-oriented mindset
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work cross-functionally
- High emotional intelligence and the ability to build long-term relationships
Why Join Us?
This is a unique opportunity to play a central role in shaping and expanding our grower footprint in Zimbabwe. You will combine field presence, relationship management, and strategic development to drive sustainable growth and long-term partnerships in the region.