Technical Manager - Dairy Nutrition - Sub-Saharan Africa

Technical Manager - Dairy Nutrition Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Dairy Technical Manager is Kemin Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading technical specialist in dairy nutrition, health and practical on-farm dairy production. The role promotes, grows and supports Kemin’s ruminant animal nutrition and health business across Sub-Saharan Africa combining scientific credibility, practical industry expertise, customer insight and commercial excellence.

This high-impact technical position enables commercial success by expanding KSSA’s sales, marketing, product management, research and regulatory competency to create opportunities, develop science-based solutions, validate product performance and convert technical value into measurable customer and business value.

The successful candidate will diagnose complex nutrition, health, production and management challenges and translate research into practical recommendations, guide product or customer trials, develop technical tools and training, and build trusted relationships with dairy producers, feed companies, nutritionists, veterinarians, consultants, universities, research organizations and industry bodies. The role is intended for a technical skilled expert who is passionate about the dairy industry and wants to help shape the future of dairy nutrition and health in Africa through innovative, responsible and commercially relevant solutions.

Location: Olifantsfontein, Johannesburg

• Serve as KSSA’s technical expert in dairy nutrition, health and production systems across Southern and Eastern Africa.
• Maintain current knowledge of peer-reviewed research, industry developments, emerging technologies, competitor activity and relevant regulatory requirements, and apply this knowledge to create value for customers and the wider industry.
• Conduct structured farm, feed-mill and customer visits and provide practical technical support.
• Support the implementation of technical recommendations, monitor agreed performance indicators and assist with complex technical enquiries.
• Assist with technical investigations, on-farm troubleshooting and customer concerns.
• Work closely with the sales and marketing teams, as well as relevant internal support functions, to align technical support with business objectives.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships not only within the dairy industry but also actively develop global networks and represent KSSA as a technical expert at local and international industry events.
• Prepare and deliver professional technical presentations, training sessions and industry updates to customers, partners and internal teams.

• A B.Sc. A degree in agriculture with a specialization in Animal Science is required, with a strong emphasis on dairy nutrition and production. An M.Sc. in Agriculture will be an advantage.
• A minimum of five years’ relevant professional experience in dairy nutrition and production, feed formulation, product technical support, or commercial on-farm problem-solving.
• Practical experience working with commercial dairy farms, feed companies, nutritionists, veterinarians, consultants, research institutions, international experts, and agricultural businesses.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret research, analyze technical data, develop practical recommendations, and present information to customers or professional audiences.
• Commercial awareness and experience supporting sales, market-development, product-management or customer-value initiatives.

Essential skills:

• Advanced dairy nutrition, animal-health and production-system knowledge, supported by strong scientific reasoning and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to interpret farm, feed, production, health, laboratory, financial and research data and convert findings into practical, commercially relevant recommendations.
• Competence in trial design, monitoring, statistical interpretation, technical reporting and responsible scientific communication.
• Strategic and innovative thinking, intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and the confidence to challenge traditional approaches constructively.
• Strong customer engagement, relationship management, technical writing, presentation, facilitation, project management and prioritization skills.
• A highly motivated and adaptable team player who can collaborate and influence, work independently, manage multiple priorities with urgency, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with relevant dairy-management, ration-formulation, statistical or data-analysis software, including tools such as AMTS or NDS where applicable.

Language and Communication Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal English, with the ability to explain complex scientific and commercial information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, scientific writing, business writing, interpersonal, and listening skills.
• Proficiency in Afrikaans will be a strong advantage; additional African or international languages will be advantageous.

Physical and Travel Requirements: 

• Willing and able to travel extensively within the KSSA territory and internationally, including overnight stays, early departures and occasional work outside standard business hours.
• Able to visit farms, feed mills, research facilities and customer sites and work in agricultural environments involving livestock, dust, noise, variable weather, and biosecurity requirements.

Personal Characteristics:

• Passionate and an established expert within the dairy nutrition and health industry, and the future of the African dairy sector.
• Innovative, curious, forward-thinking, and willing to explore non-traditional solutions.
• Scientifically credible, commercially aware, customer-focused, and solutions-oriented.
• Confident but humble; open to alternative viewpoints and willing to revise recommendations when evidence changes.
• Energetic, positive, resilient, proactive, accountable, dependable, and self-motivated.
• Able to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and build trust across different technical, commercial, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
• Committed to integrity, animal welfare, sustainability, responsible scientific communication, and long-term industry development.

Certificates & Licenses:

• A valid Code B motor vehicle driver’s license.
• A valid passport, or the ability to obtain and maintain one, and eligibility to travel locally and internationally.
• Professional registration with an appropriate scientific, animal-science, or agricultural body is advantageous or required only where legally applicable.
• Relevant certification in feed formulation, dairy management, research, statistics, project management, animal welfare or health and safety is advantageous.

Work Environment and Location:

• The successful candidate will be based in Gauteng at Kemin Industries South Africa’s office.
• The role combines Kemin office engagement, customer meetings, farm and feed-mill visits, research activities, training events, conferences, and travel across Southern Africa and selected African countries, as well as extensive international traveling to Kemin business units and elsewhere.
• The work environment is dynamic, office-based, collaborative, science-driven, customer-focused and commercially orientated.

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