Agricultural Optimisation Manager

Org Unit: Estate Agriculture

Reporting: Site Agriculture Head

Job Category: Permanent

About Illovo

Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc is the country’s leading producer of raw, refined and specialty sugars; employing more than 9000 employees. Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc is part of Illovo Sugar Africa Group; a wholly-owned subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc (ABF).

Duties and responsibilities

1. Develop and maintain the site agricultural optimization plan, aligning improvement initiatives with business transformation priorities, operational goals, and performance requirements.
2. Lead data-driven analysis of agricultural operations to identify performance gaps, root causes of inefficiencies, yield losses, resource waste, and engineering constraints, and design practical improvement solutions.
3. Manage the implementation of approved optimization projects, monitor progress against targets, resolve barriers, and ensure benefits are achieved, measured, and validated.
4. Translate enterprise transformation priorities into site-level actions, facilitate cross-functional collaboration, support innovation pilots and technology adoption, and promote sharing of best practices across sites.
5. Promote and adhere to Illovo’s procedures, policies and guidelines, including, without limitation, those relating to SHERQ, Competitive Law and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC)

Qualifications and experience

1. Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Data Analytics, Industrial Engineering or a related field.
2. Professional training or certification in Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, data analytics, project management or operational excellence is advantageous.
3. Minimum of 8 to 10 years’ progressive experience in commercial agriculture, agricultural engineering, crop production, agricultural optimisation or operational improvement.

How to apply

Please send your application letters together with detailed CV with copies of relevant certificates, traceable referees and National ID to:

The HR head,

Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc

P.O. Box 46

Dwangwa

E-mail: [email protected]

Closing date for receiving application letters is 17th November 2026 and only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

Illovo is an equal opportunity employer, and women are encouraged to apply.

SUGAR IS OUR BUSINESS BUT PEOPLE ARE OUR SWEETEST ASSETS.