Role Summary

The Plantation Manager is responsible for planning, leading and controlling all plantation activities on a large plantation with the help of a team of plantation foresters, contractors or own wages staff, community development officers and other technical experts. The incumbent is responsible for delivering the right quantity and quality of volumes at the right time, safely and environmentally responsible and sustainable, manage biodiversity at the plantation and manage all stakeholder and community relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Silviculture Operations

• Nursery Establishment: Plan nursery operations according to annual operating targets (AOP), ensuring high-quality Pine and Eucalyptus seedlings are available on time. Manage resources, seedling health, pests, diseases, procurement, and compliance with nursery standards.
• Site Preparation: Oversee bush clearing, slashing, controlled burning, and chemical spraying to ensure land is ready for planting on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with quality, environmental, and safety standards.
• Plantation Establishment: Manage marking, pitting, planting, fertilisation, and survival assessments. Ensure adequate labour, equipment, seedlings, water, and other resources are available to meet planting targets.
• Plantation Maintenance: Plan and supervise weeding and pruning to promote healthy growth and maximum seedling survival. Monitor weed growth, prevent seedling damage, and ensure compliance with FSC and operational requirements.
• Plantation Protection: Protect plantation assets against fire, pests, diseases, grazing, and encroachment. Maintain firebreaks, emergency response systems, equipment, and preventive protection measures.

Harvesting Operations

• Manage first and second thinning, as well as clear-felling operations, in company-owned and third-party plantations.
• Translate annual harvesting targets into weekly operational plans.
• Ensure appropriate equipment, trained personnel, road access, and transport logistics are available.
• Maintain harvesting quality through correct tree selection, merchandising, and equipment use.
• Ensure timely delivery of harvested products to customers in line with agreed quantities and specifications.
• Control harvesting costs, labour, equipment maintenance, infrastructure, and operational risks.
• Apply health and safety procedures, erosion control, and measures to prevent soil compaction and fire risks.

Community Relations Management

• Work closely with the Community Development Officer (CDO) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department to maintain positive relationships with local communities and stakeholders.
• Engage regularly with district authorities, forestry officials, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support community development initiatives, including clinics, schools, outgrower schemes, and apiculture projects.
• Coordinate stakeholder meetings, visits, and community engagement activities.

Infrastructure Establishment and Maintenance

• Develop and maintain access roads, buildings, houses, sheds, airstrips, and other plantation infrastructure.
• Ensure reliable operation and maintenance of generators, pumps, water tanks, pipelines, and dams.
• Maintain good housekeeping across plantations, compartments, nurseries, and facilities.
• Manage stores, equipment, fuel, diesel, fertilisers, chemicals, and other operational supplies.
• Develop and implement maintenance schedules, inspections, and checklists.
• Ensure adequate hygiene, water supply, sanitation, malaria prevention, and waste management.

Contractor Management

• Select contractors according to approved company procedures.
• Train contractors and supervisors on quality standards, safety requirements, and best operating practices.
• Ensure labour is available when required to meet operational targets.
• Conduct regular meetings to review quality, cost, productivity, and delivery performance.
• Monitor contractor performance and ensure work is completed to the required standards before approving payment.
• Support contractors with labour planning, leave management, and basic labour legislation requirements.

Financial Management and Reporting

• Prepare budget inputs and manage daily plantation expenditure.
• Translate annual operating plans (AOPs) and budgets into weekly and monthly operational targets.
• Monitor financial performance, investigate budget variances, and implement corrective actions.
• Justify additional expenditure required to protect plantation assets.
• Prepare accurate weekly and monthly operational reports.
• Maintain detailed operational, financial, and carbon-management records.

People Management

• Recruit capable employees with the potential to develop into skilled forestry professionals.
• Train, coach, and mentor employees to improve competence and productivity.
• Set performance expectations and conduct employee performance management.
• Address poor performance and misconduct in accordance with company policies and applicable labour legislation.
• Build a disciplined, accountable, and performance-focused workforce.

Compliance and Statutory Requirements

• Implement and maintain compliance with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) principles and standards.
• Ensure effective implementation of the Integrated Management System (IMS) and approved operating procedures.
• Apply recommendations from Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
• Implement the Group Silviculture Manual and train employees in its requirements.
• Maintain records required for carbon management, environmental compliance, and auditing.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety requirements, labour legislation, and other applicable statutory obligations.

Biodiversity Management

• Plan and implement biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest genetic resource management programmes.
• Apply recommendations from biodiversity studies and conservation assessments.
• Advise management on biodiversity policies, strategies, and best practices.
• Provide technical support to field conservation projects.
• Act as the plantation’s focal point for biodiversity management.
• Protect indigenous mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans, and their natural habitats.

Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality (SHEQ) Management

• Implement, monitor, and enforce all plantation safety, health, environmental, and quality requirements in line with company policies, IMS procedures, FSC standards, and applicable legislation.
• Work closely with the SHEQ Officer to develop and promote a strong safety culture among employees, contractors, and supervisors.
• Conduct regular workplace inspections, risk assessments, hazard identification, and safety audits to identify and address unsafe conditions and practices.
• Ensure employees and contractors receive appropriate safety training, use the required personal protective equipment (PPE), and comply with safe work procedures.
• Proactively prevent workplace injuries, accidents, occupational illnesses, environmental incidents, and damage to company assets.
• Ensure incidents, near misses, and non-conformances are reported, investigated, and addressed through corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor environmental protection, chemical handling, waste management, fire prevention, and emergency preparedness.
• Promote continuous improvement in SHEQ performance, with a strong focus on preventing injuries and achieving a safe working environment for all personnel.

Equipment, Vehicles, Communications, and Consumables Management

• Ensure all plantation vehicles, machinery, tools, equipment, and communication systems are properly maintained, serviced, inspected, and kept in safe working condition.
• Develop and monitor preventive maintenance schedules, ensuring timely servicing, repairs, and replacement of defective equipment to minimise downtime and maintain operational efficiency.
• Ensure vehicles and equipment are operated only by authorised, competent personnel and that all required maintenance and inspection records are kept up to date.
• Control the procurement, receipt, storage, distribution, and use of fuel, diesel, fertilisers, chemicals, pesticides, and other operational consumables.
• Ensure hazardous materials are appropriately labelled, safely stored, handled, and used in accordance with safety data sheets, environmental requirements, and company procedures.
• Monitor stock levels, consumption rates, fuel usage, and material losses through accurate recordkeeping, stock reconciliations, and regular reporting.
• Implement controls to prevent wastage, misuse, theft, and unnecessary expenditure, ensuring resources are available when required and used cost-effectively.
• Include equipment, vehicle, communication system, and consumables management in operational planning, budgets, and routine management reports.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential: Recognized Diploma or Degree in Forestry or applied Forestry.

Preferred: In addition to the Forestry qualification, candidates with managerial qualifications, project management training will be at a distinct advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Proven ability to apply technical knowledge related to Silviculture and Harvesting operations
• Excellent communication skills – verbal and written.
• Proven ability to negotiate with procurement suppliers, contractors and the community
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict situations between community stakeholders and a company
• Demonstrated ability to manage the comprehensive supply chain for silviculture and harvesting
• Excellent ability to plan all activities and provide for resource availability to execute the operation according to budget, schedule and plan.
• Ability to formulate an Annual Operating Plan for all operations with adjacent budgets
• Track record of ability to deliver on all objectives and targets as per weekly, monthly and quarterly plans.
• Excellent problem-solving ability through a collaborative approach
• Proven ability to mentor and coach forestry teams to develop their skills, grow their technical knowledgebase and support their career development.
• Proven project management abilities
• Ability to plan, develop Gantt charts and implement the same, monitor progress.

• Plan nursery operations according to annual operating targets (AOP), ensuring high-quality Pine and Eucalyptus seedlings are available on time. Manage resources, seedling health, pests, diseases, procurement, and compliance with nursery standards.
• Oversee bush clearing, slashing, controlled burning, and chemical spraying to ensure land is ready for planting on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with quality, environmental, and safety standards.
• Manage marking, pitting, planting, fertilisation, and survival assessments. Ensure adequate labour, equipment, seedlings, water, and other resources are available to meet planting targets.
• Plan and supervise weeding and pruning to promote healthy growth and maximum seedling survival. Monitor weed growth, prevent seedling damage, and ensure compliance with FSC and operational requirements.
• Protect plantation assets against fire, pests, diseases, grazing, and encroachment. Maintain firebreaks, emergency response systems, equipment, and preventive protection measures.
• Manage first and second thinning, as well as clear-felling operations, in company-owned and third-party plantations.
• Translate annual harvesting targets into weekly operational plans.
• Ensure appropriate equipment, trained personnel, road access, and transport logistics are available.
• Maintain harvesting quality through correct tree selection, merchandising, and equipment use.
• Ensure timely delivery of harvested products to customers in line with agreed quantities and specifications.
• Control harvesting costs, labour, equipment maintenance, infrastructure, and operational risks.
• Apply health and safety procedures, erosion control, and measures to prevent soil compaction and fire risks.
• Work closely with the Community Development Officer (CDO) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department to maintain positive relationships with local communities and stakeholders.
• Engage regularly with district authorities, forestry officials, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support community development initiatives, including clinics, schools, outgrower schemes, and apiculture projects.
• Coordinate stakeholder meetings, visits, and community engagement activities.
• Develop and maintain access roads, buildings, houses, sheds, airstrips, and other plantation infrastructure.
• Ensure reliable operation and maintenance of generators, pumps, water tanks, pipelines, and dams.
• Maintain good housekeeping across plantations, compartments, nurseries, and facilities.
• Manage stores, equipment, fuel, diesel, fertilisers, chemicals, and other operational supplies.
• Develop and implement maintenance schedules, inspections, and checklists.
• Ensure adequate hygiene, water supply, sanitation, malaria prevention, and waste management.
• Select contractors according to approved company procedures.
• Train contractors and supervisors on quality standards, safety requirements, and best operating practices.
• Ensure labour is available when required to meet operational targets.
• Conduct regular meetings to review quality, cost, productivity, and delivery performance.
• Monitor contractor performance and ensure work is completed to the required standards before approving payment.
• Support contractors with labour planning, leave management, and basic labour legislation requirements.
• Prepare budget inputs and manage daily plantation expenditure.
• Translate annual operating plans (AOPs) and budgets into weekly and monthly operational targets.
• Monitor financial performance, investigate budget variances, and implement corrective actions.
• Justify additional expenditure required to protect plantation assets.
• Prepare accurate weekly and monthly operational reports.
• Maintain detailed operational, financial, and carbon-management records.
• Recruit capable employees with the potential to develop into skilled forestry professionals.
• Train, coach, and mentor employees to improve competence and productivity.
• Set performance expectations and conduct employee performance management.
• Address poor performance and misconduct in accordance with company policies and applicable labour legislation.
• Build a disciplined, accountable, and performance-focused workforce.
• Implement and maintain compliance with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) principles and standards.
• Ensure effective implementation of the Integrated Management System (IMS) and approved operating procedures.
• Apply recommendations from Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
• Implement the Group Silviculture Manual and train employees in its requirements.
• Maintain records required for carbon management, environmental compliance, and auditing.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety requirements, labour legislation, and other applicable statutory obligations.
• Plan and implement biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest genetic resource management programmes.
• Apply recommendations from biodiversity studies and conservation assessments.
• Advise management on biodiversity policies, strategies, and best practices.
• Provide technical support to field conservation projects.
• Act as the plantation’s focal point for biodiversity management.
• Protect indigenous mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans, and their natural habitats.
• Implement, monitor, and enforce all plantation safety, health, environmental, and quality requirements in line with company policies, IMS procedures, FSC standards, and applicable legislation.
• Work closely with the SHEQ Officer to develop and promote a strong safety culture among employees, contractors, and supervisors.
• Conduct regular workplace inspections, risk assessments, hazard identification, and safety audits to identify and address unsafe conditions and practices.
• Ensure employees and contractors receive appropriate safety training, use the required personal protective equipment (PPE), and comply with safe work procedures.
• Proactively prevent workplace injuries, accidents, occupational illnesses, environmental incidents, and damage to company assets.
• Ensure incidents, near misses, and non-conformances are reported, investigated, and addressed through corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor environmental protection, chemical handling, waste management, fire prevention, and emergency preparedness.
• Promote continuous improvement in SHEQ performance, with a strong focus on preventing injuries and achieving a safe working environment for all personnel.
• Ensure all plantation vehicles, machinery, tools, equipment, and communication systems are properly maintained, serviced, inspected, and kept in safe working condition.
• Develop and monitor preventive maintenance schedules, ensuring timely servicing, repairs, and replacement of defective equipment to minimise downtime and maintain operational efficiency.
• Ensure vehicles and equipment are operated only by authorised, competent personnel and that all required maintenance and inspection records are kept up to date.
• Control the procurement, receipt, storage, distribution, and use of fuel, diesel, fertilisers, chemicals, pesticides, and other operational consumables.
• Ensure hazardous materials are appropriately labelled, safely stored, handled, and used in accordance with safety data sheets, environmental requirements, and company procedures.
• Monitor stock levels, consumption rates, fuel usage, and material losses through accurate recordkeeping, stock reconciliations, and regular reporting.
• Implement controls to prevent wastage, misuse, theft, and unnecessary expenditure, ensuring resources are available when required and used cost-effectively.
• Include equipment, vehicle, communication system, and consumables management in operational planning, budgets, and routine management reports.

• Proven ability to apply technical knowledge related to Silviculture and Harvesting operations
• Excellent communication skills – verbal and written.
• Proven ability to negotiate with procurement suppliers, contractors and the community
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict situations between community stakeholders and a company
• Demonstrated ability to manage the comprehensive supply chain for silviculture and harvesting
• Excellent ability to plan all activities and provide for resource availability to execute the operation according to budget, schedule and plan.
• Ability to formulate an Annual Operating Plan for all operations with adjacent budgets
• Track record of ability to deliver on all objectives and targets as per weekly, monthly and quarterly plans.
• Excellent problem-solving ability through a collaborative approach
• Proven ability to mentor and coach forestry teams to develop their skills, grow their technical knowledgebase and support their career development.
• Proven project management abilities
• Ability to plan, develop Gantt charts and implement the same, monitor progress.

• Recognized Diploma or Degree in Forestry or applied Forestry.
• Managerial qualifications
• Project management training