Agricultural Operations Manager at Nine Stars Limited
Nine Stars Limited is a dynamic and innovative agricultural and real estate company committed to transforming Nigeriaâs market landscape. Based in Ode-Remo, Sagamu in Ogun State, our company aims to provide unparalleled agricultural and real estate solutions, offering a wide range of services that cater to the diverse needs of individuals and businesses alike.Job Overview
The company is developing a large-scale industrial new city project in Nigeria, currently in the construction and development stage. A large amount of land requires grass cutting, bush clearing, and tree removal, followed by long-term maintenance. In the future, some undeveloped land will be used for agricultural planting and operations.
We are recruiting an experienced Agricultural Manager who can work hands-on in the field. This person will be responsible for managing land-clearing teams and agricultural planting operations.
Key Responsibilities
Overall Agricultural Planting Planning and Execution (Primary Responsibility):
Develop annual/quarterly planting plans (crop selection, crop rotation plans)
Manage the full planting process, including:
Land preparation
Sowing / seedling cultivation
Fertilization and irrigation
Pest and disease control
Growth monitoring
Harvesting and yield management
Optimize crop output and agricultural profitability
Establish standardized planting SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
Agricultural Production System and On-site Management:
Establish farmland production management systems and operating standards
Organize agricultural production teams to execute planting plans
Monitor crop growth quality and yield performance
Promote demonstration plots / trial fields
Control production costs and improve input-output ratio
Agricultural Labor Team Management:
Manage field labor teams (farmers, casual workers, seasonal workers)
Responsible for recruitment, grouping, scheduling, and attendance tracking
Establish piece-rate or performance incentive systems
Manage foreman system
Resolve labor disputes, conflicts, and discipline issues
Farmland Basic Maintenance:
Responsible for basic farmland maintenance (weed control, boundary clearing, etc.)
Ensure stable farming environment in planting areas
Coordinate the use of basic tools and equipment (brush cutters, farming tools, etc.)
Agricultural Inputs and Cost Control:
Manage seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs
Establish inventory and usage tracking system
Control production cost and reduce waste
Conduct basic review and planning for procurement
Government and Community Coordination:
Maintain relationships with local communities and coordinate agriculture-related communication
Support liaison with relevant agricultural government departments
Assist in resolving basic coordination issues related to land/farmers
Data Recording and Reporting:
Prepare agricultural production plans and execution reports
Submit regular yield, cost, and problem analysis reports
Record crop growth data and production results
Support management decision-making and analysis
Basic Background Requirements
Nigerian local candidate
Recommended age: 40–50 years old
(too young may lack authority; too old may lack physical strength/execution ability)
Education: not strict requirement
Major in agriculture / agronomy / land management / environmental management / forestry is preferred
Language:
Working English communication (must)
Plus one major local language (Yoruba / Hausa / Igbo)
Most Critical Experience Requirements (Mandatory)
Real large-scale farmland / farm management experience
Minimum 5 years agricultural or farm operations experience
Experience managing 50–200 seasonal workers/farm laborers is ideal
Practical planting experience in at least one of the following crops:
maize, cassava, vegetables, rice, banana, palm, etc.
Experience in land clearing, land development, or forestry/estate management
Skilled in grass cutting, tree cutting, bush clearing, drainage trench digging
Familiar with common Nigerian tools such as:
cutlass, brush cutter, chainsaw, etc.
Experience in plantation / estate / large land clearing is a strong advantage
Must Be Able to Manage People and Deliver Execution
The biggest challenge of this role is that the farming/labor workforce is scattered, undisciplined, often lazy, inefficient, and may cause conflicts.
Therefore, the candidate must have:
Strong leadership and foreman management ability
Scheduling, piece-rate payment design, and attendance control ability
Experience handling injuries, conflicts, theft, etc.
Ability to establish rules and systems (performance management, rewards/punishments, daily reports, weekly plans)
Personality Traits (Very Important)
Strong execution ability, willing to work in the field and supervise on site
Not afraid of dirt, sun, or conflicts with workers
Used to working closely with frontline laborers, not an office-based “academic type”
Principle-driven and authoritative, but not violent/aggressive
Avoid the Following Candidate Types
Pure academic/research background (university lecturer, researcher) without team management experience
NGO agricultural officers who only write reports, PPTs, or project proposals
Small farm owners (only 5–10 acres)
People overly dependent on connections and kickbacks (common in Nigeria)
Competency Model:
Land Clearing and Maintenance Capability:
Able to develop clearing plans: which plots first, manpower required, days needed
Able to estimate tool requirements, fuel usage, blade replacement, brush cutter maintenance
Understand safety management (especially chainsaws, brush cutters, and controlled burning risks)
Labor Organization Capability:
Recruit and manage foremen
Design piece-rate wage system (per acre / per meter / per truckload, etc.)
Attendance, discipline, and conflict management
Control theft, tool loss, and material waste
Agricultural Planting Technical Capability:
Crop and variety selection
Basic agronomy: sowing, seedling raising, fertilization, irrigation, pest/disease control
Harvesting and storage
Able to run small-scale demonstration plots
Government / Community Coordination Capability:
Able to communicate with village leaders, land communities, and farmer associations
Understand local community “sensitive issues.”
Prevent disputes caused by tree cutting/land clearing
Basic Administration and Reporting Capability:
Able to write simple English reports
Able to prepare weekly work plans and cost budgets
Able to use mobile phone photos to record field progress
Able to report and coordinate with the Chinese management team
Job Requirements
Minimum 5 years of agricultural/farm/plantation operations management experience
Experience in large-scale land clearing, land development, or plantation management preferred
Experience managing large labor teams (50+ people preferred)
Able to live on site and adapt to high-intensity outdoor field work
English + local language
Strong responsibility, execution ability, and ability to independently solve on-site issues.