Head of Thailand Plantation Business Group

SVP – Head of Thailand Plantation Business 

Business Scope

• Horticulture: Cashew, Durian, Pomelo, and Date Palm
• Rubber Plantation
• Coffee Plantation in Laos
• Pineapple Plantation

The position oversees agricultural operations across the Central, Northern, Northeastern, Eastern, and Upper Southern regions of Thailand, covering approximately 99,000 rai of farmland and a workforce of approximately 700–1,000 employees.

Position Purpose

The SVP – Head of Thailand Plantation Business Group is responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the plantation and agricultural business. The role covers business strategy, long-term planning, cultivation and plantation operations, yield improvement, cost and budget management, P&L and cash flow, as well as people development.

The position is also responsible for building a strong talent pipeline and succession plan to support sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & Business Planning

• Set the overall business direction and strategy for horticulture and plantation operations.
• Develop 1–5 year business plans covering crop portfolio, investment, and business growth.
• Analyze market conditions, commodity prices, industry trends, and business risks.
• Translate business strategy into actionable plans and KPIs across all projects.

2. Budgeting & Cost Control

• Prepare and manage annual Opex and Capex budgets at both group and project levels.
• Control agricultural costs, including fertilizer, chemicals, labor, machinery, and water.
• Monitor cost performance against cost-per-rai and cost-per-unit targets.
• Review budget variances and implement timely corrective actions.

3. Cropping Planning & Plantation Operations

• Develop the Master Cropping Plan covering all crops and projects.
• Oversee the full farming cycle from land preparation, planting, and cultivation through harvesting.
• Ensure production volume and product quality meet established targets.
• Drive productivity improvement, technology adoption, and best agricultural practices.
• Manage operational risks related to weather, pests, diseases, and yield fluctuations.

4. Financial Performance

• Take full accountability for the business group's P&L.
• Manage cash flow and working capital.
• Evaluate investment returns and business performance.
• Report financial and operational performance to senior management.

5. People Management & Development

• Optimize workforce planning, productivity, and organizational structure.
• Build and develop the organization's talent pool.
• Develop project leaders, managers, and field supervisors.
• Establish succession plans for key positions.
• Foster a results-oriented, safety-conscious, and collaborative working culture.

6. Governance & Sustainability

• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, safety standards, and environmental requirements.
• Promote sustainable agricultural practices and explore opportunities related to carbon credits.
• Work closely with internal group functions and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree in Agriculture, Plant Science, Agro-Industry, Business Administration, Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience managing cultivation operations, horticultural/field crop businesses, or large-scale commercial farms/plantations.
• More than 10 years of leadership or management experience with responsibility for people and organizational performance.
• Strong knowledge of cultivation systems, soil, water, fertilizers, pest and disease management, agricultural machinery, harvesting, quality control, and agricultural supply chains.
• Proven experience in P&L management, strategic planning, business planning, budgeting, cost control, cash flow management, and productivity improvement.
• Experience managing multi-site or multi-crop agricultural operations.
• Knowledge of carbon credits, greenhouse gas reduction, sustainable agriculture, or agricultural production/processing is an advantage.
• Strong project management skills and willingness to travel regularly to multiple agricultural sites.
• Strong capabilities in Strategic Management, Business Planning, Financial Acumen, Execution Management, Data Analytics, Negotiation, and Stakeholder Management.
• Business-level proficiency in Thai and English.
• Comfortable using digital systems and data to monitor and manage business performance.
• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, decisiveness, maturity, results orientation, and strong people-development skills.

Key Management Competencies

• Strategic thinking and business planning
• Financial and P&L management
• Budget and cost management
• Large-scale, multi-project organization management
• Decision-making under uncertainty
• People development and succession planning
• Senior stakeholder management
• Negotiation and communication
• Agricultural and plantation operations
• Data-driven performance management

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate should combine strong agricultural/plantation expertise with commercial and financial leadership, with the ability to manage large-scale, multi-location operations and a significant workforce. The role requires both strategic leadership and hands-on understanding of plantation operations, productivity, cost management, and business performance.