CAREER OPPORTUNITIES – NAVA AVOCADO LIMITED

Nava Avocado Limited invites applications from suitably qualified, experienced and results-oriented professionals for the following positions at its operations in Kawambwa District, Luapula Province.

1. MANAGER – CIVIL ENGINEERING

Role Purpose

To lead the planning, execution and control of civil engineering works across the Company’s infrastructure projects, ensuring delivery to required technical, quality, cost and safety standards.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Plan, coordinate and supervise civil engineering works across the estate.
• Review engineering drawings, designs, specifications, Bills of Quantities and construction methodologies.
• Monitor contractors and internal teams to ensure works are executed in accordance with approved drawings and specifications.
• Develop work programmes and monitor progress against agreed schedules and budgets.
• Verify quantities, measurements and completed works for payment purposes.
• Coordinate procurement requirements for civil works, materials and services.
• Ensure effective quality control and inspection of civil construction activities.
• Identify technical risks, construction delays and cost overruns and recommend corrective action.
• Maintain accurate project records, drawings, progress reports and completion documentation.
• Ensure all works comply with applicable health, safety, environmental and Company requirements.
• Provide technical guidance and supervision to engineering personnel and contractors.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Paid up member of the Engineering Institute of Zambia.
• At least 8 years’ relevant civil engineering experience, with demonstrated responsibility for project or construction management.
• Experience supervising contractors and multidisciplinary construction activities.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, BOQs and technical specifications.
• Experience within agriculture, industrial developments, large construction projects or greenfield operations will be advantageous.

2. DIVISION ASSISTANT – PRODUCTION

Role Purpose

To support the day-to-day management of Avocado field activities within an assigned area, ensuring effective implementation of crop programmes, labour activities, record keeping and operational standards.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Coordinate daily field activities in accordance with approved production programmes.
• Supervise and allocate labour according to planned field activities.
• Monitor execution of pruning, weeding, spraying, fertiliser application and other crop-management activities.
• Ensure field activities are completed within required timelines and standards.
• Monitor labour attendance, productivity and utilisation.
• Maintain accurate daily records of activities completed, labour deployed and inputs utilised.
• Ensure fertiliser, chemical and other agricultural programmes are implemented as instructed.
• Monitor crop condition and promptly report pests, diseases, nutritional deficiencies and other production concerns.
• Monitor proper use and care of tools, equipment and other Company assets within the assigned area.
• Support accreditation compliance with GlobalG.A.P., food safety, health and safety and other Company standards.
• Capture and maintain accurate operational information in applicable farm-management systems.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Crop Science, Horticulture, Agronomy or a related discipline.
• At least 2–4 years’ practical experience in crop production or commercial farming.
• Experience supervising agricultural labour will be a strong advantage.
• Experience in horticultural or perennial crop production will be advantageous.
• Knowledge of fertiliser, chemical, spraying and crop-management programmes.
• Ability to maintain accurate production and labour records.
• Basic computer literacy and ability to work with electronic farm-management systems.

3. AGRONOMIST

Role Purpose

To provide technical agronomic support to crop production through effective monitoring and management of crop nutrition, soil health, pests, diseases and other factors affecting yield, quality and long-term crop performance.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Monitor crop health and provide timely agronomic recommendations.
• Develop and support implementation of crop nutrition and fertiliser programmes.
• Monitor soil, leaf and other analytical results and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Conduct regular field inspections to identify pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies and crop-development concerns.
• Recommend appropriate corrective interventions and monitor their effectiveness.
• Support development and implementation of integrated pest and disease-management programmes.
• Monitor effectiveness of fertiliser, chemical and crop-protection applications.
• Support development of crop-management protocols and technical operating standards.
• Analyse field and production information to identify factors influencing yield and fruit quality.
• Maintain accurate agronomic records and technical reports.
• Provide technical training and guidance to Production teams.
• Support compliance with GlobalG.A.P., food-safety, environmental and responsible chemical-use requirements.
• Keep abreast of developments in crop nutrition, crop protection and horticultural production practices.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, Soil Science, Horticulture or a related discipline.
• At least 3–5 years’ practical agronomic experience in a commercial agricultural environment.
• Strong knowledge of plant nutrition, soil fertility, pests and diseases.
• Experience developing or implementing fertiliser and crop-protection programmes.
• Understanding of fertigation and nutrient delivery through irrigation systems will be advantageous.
• Experience with horticultural, fruit or perennial crops will be a strong advantage.
• Ability to interpret soil, leaf and other laboratory analysis results.
• Good analytical, computer and report-writing skills.

4. STORES ACCOUNTANT

Role Purpose

To maintain accurate financial control over inventory by ensuring correct accounting, reconciliation, valuation and reporting of stock transactions between physical stores records, the ERP system and the General Ledger.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Ensure accurate and timely accounting of all inventory receipts, issues, transfers, returns and adjustments.
• Reconcile physical inventory records with ERP and General Ledger balances.
• Perform inventory valuation and ensure appropriate costing of stock items.
• Monitor inventory movements and identify unusual or unsupported transactions.
• Participate in periodic, cycle and year-end physical stock counts.
• Review inventory ageing, slow-moving and obsolete stock and provide relevant reports.
• Maintain appropriate accounting controls around stock receipts, issues and adjustments.
• Coordinate with Stores, Procurement, Finance and operational departments to resolve inventory-related matters.
• Support internal and external audits relating to inventory.
• Assist in strengthening inventory controls, procedures and ERP processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, Company policies and internal controls.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• Fully paid-up member of ZICA.
• At least 3 years’ relevant experience in inventory, stores or cost accounting.
• Practical experience with ERP-based inventory accounting.
• Experience with SAP will be highly advantageous.
• Strong understanding of inventory reconciliation, costing and General Ledger accounting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience within agriculture, manufacturing, FMCG, engineering, construction or another inventory-intensive environment will be advantageous.

5. MARKETING & SALES EXECUTIVE

Role Purpose

To support the Company’s marketing, sales and commercial activities through market research, customer engagement, sales coordination, commercial analysis, logistics planning and reporting, while building broad exposure across the fresh-produce commercial cycle.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Conduct market research and provide intelligence on customers, competitors, pricing and market trends.
• Support customer acquisition, business development and key account-management activities.
• Maintain customer enquiries, quotations, orders and sales records.
• Support development of seasonal sales forecasts and commercial plans.
• Participate in customer meetings and commercial engagements.
• Coordinate with Production, Packhouse, Quality and Finance teams on customer requirements and product availability.
• Support logistics planning and coordination, including transportation, cold storage and customer deliveries.
• Monitor stock, dispatches, goods in transit and customer deliveries.
• Assist with sales, pricing, revenue, cost and margin analysis.
• Prepare periodic sales, logistics and commercial-performance reports.
• Maintain commercial trackers, dashboards and customer information.

Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business Administration, Commerce, Agribusiness, Economics or a related discipline.
• Fully paid-up member of the Zambia Institute of Marketing.
• At least 3–5 years of relevant experience in marketing, sales, business development, customer management or commercial operations.
• Practical exposure to customer-facing or revenue-generating activities.
• Experience within agriculture, fresh produce, food, FMCG, distribution, logistics or export-related environments will be an added advantage.

Application Process

Interested candidates who meet the requirements are invited to submit:

• A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
• Copies of relevant validated academic and professional qualifications.
• A brief cover letter clearly indicating the position being applied for.