Graduate Agricultural Consultant

Note: This profile provides a market aligned view of this job’s typical core requirements, informed by Korn Ferry’s Success Profile methodology, and will evolve over time.

Supports economic activities under guidance while building early professional capability. Applies introductory economic concepts to assist in project delivery. Follows GHD procedures and established methods to build accuracy and confidence. Progresses by strengthening analytical skills and gaining broader project exposure.

Responsibilities describe the typical accountabilities and scope of work for this job,  while recognising that individual objectives are set with the manager and may vary over time.

• Advanced and Predictive Analytics: Support interpretation of advanced and predictive analytics data, using specialized software tools and functionalities.


• Client & Customer Management (External): Help senior colleagues manage client and customer relationships by using relevant sales or client systems.


• Community of Practice Management: Participate in a community of practice in a defined area of expertise or consulting to begin to build own expertise.


• Data Collection and Analysis: Collate and analyze data using preset tools, methods, and formats. Involves working independently.


• Data Exploration: Work independently to collate and analyze data using predetermined tools, methods, and formats to create standard insights.


• Data Management: Help others get the most out of data management systems by providing support and advice.


• Economic Research: Work with existing systems and protocols to carry out designated economic research activities, either to support others or to deliver prescribed outcomes for part of a research program.


• Health, Safety, and Environment: Follow the organization's health, safety, and environment (HSE) policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions to identify and mitigate environmental risks and risks to the well-being of self and others in the workplace; instruct the team in safe working methods; identify instances of risky behaviors within the team and take appropriate action, escalating serious issues as appropriate.


• Information and Business Advice: Resolve complex queries from internal or external customers or suppliers by providing information on policies and/or procedures, referring the most complex issues to others.


• Insights and Reporting: Contribute to the preparation of various data and analytics reports.


• Personal Capability Building: Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching. Develop and maintain an understanding of relevant technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.


• Project Management: Work within an established project management plan to achieve specific goals.


• Request for Bid Solicitation/Proposal/Tender Response: Gather information and resources to assist in the drafting of standardized tenders/proposals in response to bid solicitations, request for proposal, and request for tender.

Competencies describe the observable behaviours that differentiate effective performance in this job and guide expectations, feedback, and development discussions.

• Collaborates – Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. For example, readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.


• Ensures Accountability – Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments. For example, accepts responsibility for own work, both successes and failures. Handles fair share and does not make excuses for problems. Usually meets commitments to others.


• Manages Complexity – Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. For example, gathers basic information to understand a problem and find a solution. Seeks to understand and apply systematic problem-solving methods; distinguishes symptoms from underlying problems.


• Nimble Learning – Learns through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder. For example, shows a clear desire to learn and questions others to gain new knowledge. Deals appropriately with first-time or unusual problems; seeks relevant guidance and support. Learns from mistakes.


• Resourcefulness – Secures and deploys resources effectively and efficiently. For example, accomplishes tasks without waste, leveraging available resources; requests additional resources when appropriate. Manages multiple priorities and competing demands calmly and effectively.


• Tech Savvy – Anticipates and adopts innovations in business-building digital and technology applications. For example, investigates technologies to learn some cutting-edge best practices. Uses digital/social media to benefit the team and add value to the work being done; understands how to avoid misuse of these tools.

Skills reflect the technical, professional, and functional capabilities required to perform the job effectively at the expected level, and guide assessment and development.

• Action Planning – Works with full competence to review and evaluate recommendations and requirements and to develop appropriate plans or deliver actions required. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Analytical Process Techniques – Works with full competence to apply appropriate analytical processes and procedures to support research schedules. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Categorizing and Classifying Information – Works with full competence to utilize systems and tools to support categorizing and classifying data and information. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Computer Skills – Works with full competence to understand and effectively use standard office equipment and standard software packages to support business processes. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Data Analysis Techniques – Works with full competence to inspect, cleanse, transform, and model data to discover useful information, inform conclusions, and support decision-making. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Data Collection and Analysis – Works with full competence to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Data Interpretation – Works with full competence to interpret data by examining patterns, trends, relationships, and implications to draw meaningful conclusions and answer critical questions. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Data Management Techniques - Research and Development – Works with full competence to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret research data from diverse sources to extract meaningful insights, identify trends and relationships, draw conclusions, and support research hypotheses. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Database Reporting – Works with full competence to use database reporting tools and techniques. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Information Retrieval and Searching – Works with full competence to utilize systems and tools required to search for new data or retrieve existing data in a database. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Metadata Management – Works with full competence to create and manage metadata systems and solutions to ensure information can be adequately found, shared, and maintained across an organization. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Numerical Skills – Works with full competence to understand numerical concepts and use them to carry out mathematical operations e.g. in order to analyze reports. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Research Methods – Works with full competence to apply appropriate method, tools, processes and software to execute research activities. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Review and Reporting – Works with full competence to create reports, and review reports created by others, for various audiences as relevant, in a lucid and effective manner, keeping in mind the purpose of reports. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Statistical Techniques – Works with full competence to apply analytical skills and statistical methods for data collection, review, testing, analysis, and conclusion drawing, with a solid understanding of probability theories, data models, and statistical software. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.


• Written Communication – Works with full competence to express ideas, request actions, formulate plans, & policies by means of clear and effective writing. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.

• Short-Cycle Tertiary Education

• General Experience: Sound experience and understanding of straightforward procedures or systems (7 to 12 months)


• Managerial Experience: Basic experience of coordinating the work of others (4 to 6 months)