Our client, an innovative nursery based in Wellington, has an exciting opportunity available for a Blueberry Breeding Site Manager to join their breeding programme.

The successful incumbent is an organised, hands-on and motivated individual who will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the blueberry breeding and trial site. The successful candidate will oversee field operations, trial activities, data collection and staff, while contributing to the successful development and evaluation of new blueberry varieties.

Duties will include (but will not be limited to): *Manage all field activities relating to the blueberry breeding programme *Coordinate the planting, maintenance and removal of breeding selections and trial material *Assist breeders with crossing, selection and evaluation activities *Oversee the collection, recording and submission of breeding and trial data *Monitor plant performance, yield, fruit quality, disease resistance and other breeding characteristics *Assist with trial planning, implementation and reporting *Manage irrigation, fertilisation, pruning, pest control and general crop husbandry *Monitor plant health and implement corrective actions where required *Ensure site infrastructure, equipment and vehicles are maintained and operational *Manage inventory of supplies and materials required for breeding activities *Supervise permanent and seasonal employees and allocate daily work activities *Train staff on breeding protocols, operational procedures and data collection standards *Ensure compliance with company policies, phytosanitary standards, and Health & Safety requirements *Maintain accurate operational records and support internal and external audits.

Essential qualifications, skills, and experience:

• Diploma or Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science or a related field will be advantageous, although not essential for the right candidate;

• Approximately 1–3 years' experience in crop production, plant breeding, research trials or nursery operations;

• Good understanding of horticultural crop management practices;

• Experience supervising staff and managing field operations;

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data management systems;

• Effective verbal and written communication skills Afrikaans and English;

• Valid driver's licence.

Please apply online at www.m3online.co.za before 09:00 on 31 July 2026.

For general enquiries, contact our team at M3 Human Capital Management on 021 863 1444.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates are contacted. If no feedback is received within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application was unsuccessful.