REQUIREMENTS :
Successful completion of Pre-entry Certificate for SMS as endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG).
Honours / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Agricultural Studies / Agricultural Economics. Eight (8) years' experience at a senior managerial level.
DUTIES :
Provide national frameworks to promote sustainable household food security programmes. Improve on the production systems of subsistence producer/farmers in the agricultural sector to achieve food security and improve livelihoods. Support the production systems of smallholder producers/farmers in the agricultural sector to achieve food security and sustainable livelihoods. Facilitate the provision of engineering services, inputs, implements & infrastructure support.
Oversee partnerships with other national and international stakeholders involved in the food security initiatives. Develop and provide strategic support to Land Reform beneficiaries. Develop norms and standards to guide support on land reform and other land beneficiaries. Provide Strategic support on land reform farms value chain. Coordinate land development support on acquired land. Facilitate the provision of the Department of Agriculture (DoA) education and Training in support of sustainable growth and equitable participation in the sector. Facilitate and support education and training skills in the Sector.
Promote development of centres of excellence on sector skills training. Develop, manage and coordinate sector transformation policy and strategy in line with government objectives for DoA. Provide national extension support services. Develop norms and standards for extension and advisory services. Set norms and standards for all service providers, extension officers (standard equipment and offices) level of training and qualifications. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of norms and standards in extension and advisory services. Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the national extension recovery plan in consultation with Provincial Departments of Agriculture (PDA's).
Develop and assess the effectiveness of various extension and advisory service delivery methodologies or approaches relevant for the sector. Provide sound development finance services for development of DoA programmes. Promote the development of DoA financing programmes. Facilitate and manage sector development funding. Facilitate the development of funding instruments. Prove a national policy framework for development financing. Coordinate the development of national policy and facilitate the implementation of financing programmes.
Facilitate the development finance initiatives within DoA. Provide strategic direction and guidance with regards to the management of resources within the Branch. Provide support to the Minister and Director-General (DG) in relation to the development of solutions for challenges specific to the Branch, to ensure delivery of the Branch related key result areas (including playing a direct role regarding inputs into strategy, being accountable for relevant inputs to parliamentary committee meetings, cluster meetings, implementation of the sector plan, etc.).
Articulate the Departmental Strategy consistent with the Medium-Term Strategy Framework (MTSF) and relevant to the Branch's programmes and support the DG in leading the implementation thereof. Ensure synchronization of the deliverables of the Department with those of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and other government entities reporting to the DoA. Develop Service Level Agreement with relevant State-Owned Entities, consistent with the sector priorities.
Lead the Branch in the implementation of policy priorities and the realisation of the Branch's strategic objectives - including setting of targets. Mobilise and allocate resources in accordance with the defined priorities. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of projects and ensure appropriate progress tracking, analysis, and reporting. Assume a central coordination role in relation to the functions of the Branch with all stakeholders, including provincial coordination.