Banana Plantation Director

Our client, a leading agribusiness organization, is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Director – Banana Plantation Project to lead the development, execution, and performance of a large-scale banana plantation and export business. This strategic leadership role will oversee the entire banana value chain, from plantation establishment and crop production to post-harvest operations, quality management, logistics, and export market delivery. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving operational excellence, profitability, sustainability, and long-term growth while ensuring compliance with international agricultural and export standards. Responsibilities: Develop and execute the overall business strategy for the banana plantation project, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and investment expectations. Lead the establishment, expansion, and management of large-scale banana plantation operations, including greenfield development initiatives. Translate capital investments into commercially viable and profitable operations while achieving targeted returns on investment. Develop and manage annual production plans, yield targets, cost budgets, and long-term profitability objectives. Provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership and the Board regarding expansion opportunities, operational risks, and market developments. Oversee agronomic planning, including varietal selection, irrigation management, drainage systems, nutrition programs, crop protection, and soil health management. Drive continuous improvements in yield per hectare, fruit quality, export-grade recovery, and overall operational efficiency. Implement precision agriculture technologies, automation solutions, and climate-resilient farming practices to enhance productivity. Manage end-to-end plantation operations, including cultivation, harvesting, grading, packing, cold chain management, storage, and export logistics. Ensure post-harvest losses are minimized through effective quality control systems, operational discipline, and process optimization. Lead quality assurance programs to ensure compliance with international export standards, buyer specifications, and certification requirements. Coordinate closely with engineering, procurement, finance, HR, legal, and logistics teams to ensure timely project delivery and operational readiness. Monitor and control CAPEX and OPEX expenditure while maintaining cost efficiency and maximizing operational performance. Develop and implement risk management frameworks covering agronomic, climatic, operational, commercial, and compliance risks. Build strong relationships with government agencies, regulators, exporters, customers, industry stakeholders, and local communities. Ensure compliance with agricultural, labor, environmental, health, safety, and export regulations. Drive ESG initiatives, including sustainable water management, waste reduction, responsible chemical usage, and environmental stewardship. Lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary teams across agronomy, farm development, operations, quality assurance, and support functions. Oversee performance reporting, budgeting, forecasting, productivity analysis, and strategic planning activities. Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence throughout the plantation business. Requirements Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field. Postgraduate qualification in Agribusiness, Agricultural Management, or Business Administration is highly preferred. Minimum 15–20 years of experience managing large-scale agricultural operations, plantation projects, or export-oriented agribusinesses. Strong experience in banana production, plantation management, fresh fruit operations, or other large-scale horticultural enterprises. Proven track record in greenfield agricultural developments, large-scale farm operations, and infrastructure project execution. Extensive knowledge of banana agronomy, irrigation systems, drainage management, crop nutrition, pest and disease control, and plantation science. Experience managing post-harvest operations, quality assurance systems, cold chain logistics, and international export requirements. Strong understanding of international agricultural standards, including Global G.A.P., phytosanitary regulations, and export compliance requirements. Demonstrated success in managing large operational budgets, CAPEX projects, profitability targets, and cost optimization initiatives. Experience implementing precision agriculture technologies, digital transformation projects, automation systems, and data-driven farming practices. Strong leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams within complex agricultural environments. Excellent commercial acumen with experience in contract negotiations, market development, pricing strategies, and customer relationship management. Sound understanding of ESG principles, sustainability practices, and environmental compliance requirements. Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, decision-making, and strategic planning skills. Willingness to travel extensively across project sites and international markets as required.