Agricultural Research Analyst

Our client, a leading organisation in the agricultural commodities sector, is seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented Agricultural Research Analyst to join their Stellenbosch team. This role plays a key part in supporting strategic decision-making through accurate crop estimations, forecasting, and research into the impact of climate on crop production. The successful candidate will contribute to evidence-based insights that improve crop prediction and support commercial trading decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, validate, and analyse agricultural data from field reports, satellite imagery, and weather stations.

• Develop and maintain crop yield forecasting models using historical and real-time data.

• Conduct regional analyses, assessing climate-related risks and their impact on agricultural performance.

• Integrate data from multiple sources to support predictive modelling for operational and trade decisions.

• Use statistical and machine-learning tools to test, validate, and refine predictive models.

• Collaborate with traders, agronomists, climate specialists, and other internal and external stakeholders.

• Prepare daily and weekly reports on crop forecasts, risks, and regional trends.

• Present insights and recommendations through reports, dashboards, and presentations for strategic planning.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 (or equivalent).

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Data Science, or a related field.

• 5–7 years’ experience in agricultural data analysis, forecasting, modelling, or research.

• Proficiency in MS Excel, GIS software, and statistical analysis tools (R, Python, SPSS).

• Experience working with data visualisation platforms.

• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel to field sites and industry events.

Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.

• Ability to translate complex data into practical commercial insights.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder-engagement abilities.

• Highly organised, deadline-driven, and able to manage multiple projects.

• Comfortable working independently and within cross-functional teams.