Senior Soils and Plant Nutrition Head _at Kerchanshe Group, Ethiopia

Job Purpose :

– The Soil Scientist & Plant Nutritionist is responsible for leading soil fertility and plant nutrition management programs to support sustainable, high-yield crop production. The position also has full responsibility for establishing, commissioning, and managing a soil and plant tissue analysis laboratory, ensuring accurate diagnostics and data-driven recommendations for nutrient management, fertigation, and soil health improvement across our commercial farming operations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition Management

• Conduct comprehensive soil assessments (physical, chemical, and biological) to guide land suitability and crop productivity decisions.
• Develop and implement crop-specific soil fertility, fertilizer, and plant nutrition programs based on soil and tissue analysis results.
• Design integrated nutrient management plans incorporating mineral fertilizers, organic amendments, and biological inputs.
• Provide science-based recommendations for nutrient application rates, timing, methods, and fertigation formulations.
• Monitor nutrient use efficiency, nutrient balances, and soil fertility trends across seasons.

Soil & Plant Analysis Laboratory Establishment and Management

• Plan, establish, and operationalize a fully functional soil and plant tissue analysis laboratory.
• Define laboratory layout, equipment requirements, analytical methods, and workflow processes.
• Develop and implement laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), quality assurance, and quality control systems.
• Ensure accurate sampling protocols, sample handling, analysis, data management, and reporting systems.
• Supervise, train, and mentor laboratory technicians and field sampling teams.
• Ensure laboratory safety, equipment calibration, maintenance, and readiness for accreditation where applicable.

Research, Monitoring & Advisory Services

• Conduct applied research, nutrient response trials, and soil improvement studies to optimize fertilizer recommendations.
• Monitor soil health indicators and recommend corrective and preventive soil management measures.
• Provide technical advisory support to farm managers, agronomists, irrigation engineers, and production teams.
• Prepare technical reports, nutrient maps, fertilizer programs, and decision-support documents for management.

Sustainability, Compliance & Capacity Building

• Support compliance with environmental regulations, sustainability standards, and certification schemes related to soil and nutrient management.
• Promote best practices in soil conservation, nutrient stewardship, and environmental protection.
• Contribute to the development of agronomic manuals, guidelines, and training materials.
• Conduct training sessions for field staff on soil sampling, fertilizer application, and nutrient management best practices.

Qualification and Skills

Education:

• MSc in Soil Science, Plant Nutrition, Agronomy, Crop Science, or a closely related field
• Preferred: PhD in Soil Science, Plant Nutrition, or related discipline

Experience:

• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in soil fertility and plant nutrition management
• Proven experience in establishing and managing soil and/or plant analysis laboratories
• Experience working with large-scale commercial, irrigated, and mechanized farming systems
• Practical exposure to fertigation systems, nutrient diagnostics, and fertilizer formulation is highly desirable
• A very good background in scientific research on soil fertility, plant nutrition, as well as soil water management is required

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of soil chemistry, fertility evaluation, and plant nutrient diagnostics
• Proficiency in soil and plant tissue analytical methods and interpretation
• Experience with laboratory quality assurance, SOP development, and data management
• Familiarity with modern fertilizer technologies, organic amendments, and bio-fertilizers
• Ability to use GIS, nutrient mapping, and farm data systems is an advantage

Competencies & Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail and scientific rigor
• Leadership and team management capability
• Ability to translate analytical data into practical field recommendations
• Excellent communication and technical reporting skills
• Commitment to sustainability, safety, and continuous improvement

Working Conditions

• Combination of laboratory, field, and office-based work
• Requires regular field visits and interaction with farm operations
• May involve exposure to chemicals, laboratory reagents, and field conditions (with appropriate safety measures)