Christiaan Jacobus Buitendag
Senior Farm Manager
Marble Hall
Summary
Versatile Senior Manager specializing in vineyards and orchards and skilled at planning, implementing and overseeing key improvements to drive business growth and efficiency. History of cultivating an open culture with free exchange of information. Pursuing new professional challenges with a growth-oriented company.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Senior Manager
Ahrens Boerdery
11.2020 - 11.2023
- Macadamias, Avocados, and Lychees.
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in their work.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Managed large-scale projects and introduced new systems, tools, and processes to achieve challenging objectives.
- Evaluated hiring, firing, and promotions requests.
- Developed and executed successful training program for junior managers, equipping them with essential leadership skills.
- Resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Maintained a professional, organized, and safe environment for employees.
- Built high-performing teams through effective recruitment, onboarding, and talent development initiatives.
- Streamlined workflows by identifying bottlenecks in existing systems and implementing appropriate solutions.
- Implementing all standard practices of produce grown on the farm to ensure optimum yield and fruit quality.
- Training all employees before and during all procedures taken on crops, i.e., pruning, orchard sanitation, chemical application, fertilizer application, irrigation practices, and harvesting procedures.
- Record-keeping of all chemicals applied to crops in line with the requirements of any audits done, GG, Siza, HASSAP, Woolworths, and PNP.
- Pest and disease control to ensure the best quality fruit is grown from our brand, in order to get the best sales and prices.
- Quality control from orchards, harvests, and in packshed practices to minimize loss due to bad practices.
- Quality control inside pack sheds ensures that only the best quality fruit leaves the farm.
- Soil health management for optimum root growth.
- Irrigation and nutrient management create healthy plants and better fruits.
- Creating trials in orchards to improve yield and quality, proven to have had previous success.
- Maintenance on irrigation systems, fleet equipment, implements, applicators, packshed equipment, buildings, and general tools.
- Following the guidance of chemical advisors to ensure the best results from chemicals applied, while following regulations and standards set by auditors to ensure all parties involved are satisfied with the produce grown.
- Maintaining effective communication lines with CEOs and directors.
- Stock control of any and all consumables on the farm to minimize downtime in production lines.
Senior Manager
Janis Terblanche Boerdery
09.2017 - 11.2020
- Table grapes – growth practices, quality control, and harvest.
- Oversee the health, condition, and safety of the game.
- Taking out Hunters and PH Assistance
- Irrigation and fertigation management.
- Labor Management and Training
- Tractor fleet management and maintenance.
- Admin and record-keeping: chemical applications and fertilizer.
- Implementing chemical fertilizers and irrigation programs.
- Wages, timekeeping,
- Management of over 300 staff.
- Cattle feedlot management and maintenance.
- Implemented and developed operational standards, policies and procedures.
- Management, maintenance, and operation of the lodge and game farm.
- Provided strong leadership to enhance team productivity and morale.
- Collaborated closely with peers from other departments to drive organizational success jointly as one cohesive unit.
- Balanced competing priorities efficiently while maintaining focus on critical tasks requiring immediate attention.
- Executed appropriate staffing and budgetary plans to align with business forecasts.
- Evaluated hiring, firing, and promotions requests.
- Improved team productivity by implementing agile methodologies, reducing project completion times and enhancing collaboration.
Section Management
Wolves Den Farming
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Table Grapes – Growing, management and maintain and harvest
- Irrigation and Fertilizing management
- Labour Management and training
- Tractor Fleet management and maintenance
- Admin and record keeping – Chemical Register control
- Global GAP and NFS
Junior Supervisor
ASL Kruger Boerdery
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Citrus operations supervision and maintenance.
- Tobacco, harvesting, fertilizer, and irrigation.
- Cotton planting, weed control, labor supervision.
- Green bean harvesting practices.
- Cattle feedlot management and maintenance.
- Irrigation Management.
- Fertilizing and pest control.
- Labor Management and Training
Education
High School -
High School Ben Viljoen
01.2012
Certificate - Farm Manager Development Program
Center For Excellence
Levubu, South Africa 05.2001 -
Certificate - Fundamentals of Macadamia Production
Agricollages
Pretoria, South Africa 05.2001 -
Skills
Strategic planning
Talent development
Operations management
Resource allocation
Operations planning
Cross-functional collaboration/comunication
Documentation and reporting
Organizational improvement
Troubleshooting and problem resolution
Data-driven decision making
Logistics operations management
Human resources management
References
- Ian, Buitendag, 0818579356
- Andries, Kruger
- Chrisjan, Basson
Timeline
Senior Manager
Ahrens Boerdery
11.2020 - 11.2023
Senior Manager
Janis Terblanche Boerdery
09.2017 - 11.2020
Section Management
Wolves Den Farming
01.2015 - 01.2017
Junior Supervisor
ASL Kruger Boerdery
01.2014 - 01.2015
Certificate - Farm Manager Development Program
Center For Excellence
05.2001 -
Certificate - Fundamentals of Macadamia Production
Agricollages
05.2001 -
High School -
High School Ben Viljoen