Agronomist & Aquaponics Systems Operator
2026-06-08T11:39:16+00:00
Hrvst
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https://www.hrvst.market/
FULL_TIME
Lusaka
Lusaka
10101
Zambia
Professional Services
Science & Engineering, Farming & Outdoors, Agribusiness, Agronomist
2026-06-22T17:00:00+00:00
8
About SimuPod
SimuPod is a controlled-environment aquaponics and vertical farming system designed to produce high-quality crops through a repeatable, scalable, and data-driven operating model.
Our goal is not simply to grow plants. We are building a modern agricultural operating system where biology, engineering, operations, and data work together to create predictable outcomes.
We are looking for two highly disciplined Agronomists & Systems Operators who can help operate, monitor, improve, and scale the SimuPod platform.
The Role
This is a hybrid role combining:
- Agronomy
- Aquaponics
- Operations
- Data management
- Continuous improvement
You will be responsible for ensuring the daily health and performance of both the crop and fish production systems while maintaining accurate records and driving continuous optimization.
Success in this role requires exceptional attention to detail, strong observational skills, and a commitment to data accuracy.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Daily System Operations
- Perform daily inspections of crops, fish, water systems, pumps, filters, and infrastructure
- Execute germination, transplanting, harvesting, and crop maintenance activities
- Monitor crop growth and identify potential issues before they impact production
- Ensure fish health and feeding schedules are maintained
- Maintain cleanliness and biosecurity standards throughout the facility
Data Collection & Record Keeping
- Record operational data accurately and consistently
- Track crop performance, yields, mortality, growth rates, water quality, and system performance
- Verify and validate collected data for accuracy
- Investigate inconsistencies and anomalies in records
- Maintain audit-ready operational logs
Water Quality & Aquaponics Management
- Monitor and maintain:
- pH
- EC
- Water temperature
- Dissolved oxygen
- Ammonia
- Nitrite
- Nitrate
- Fish feeding rates
- Fish health indicators
- Identify trends early and take corrective action before issues escalate.
Crop Planning & Yield Management
- Execute production schedules
- Maintain staggered planting cycles
- Support harvest forecasting
- Track productivity and yield performance
- Identify opportunities to improve crop quality and output
Problem Solving & Troubleshooting
- Diagnose and resolve:
- Plant nutrient deficiencies
- Fish health issues
- Water quality problems
- Pump and circulation failures
- Disease outbreaks
- Production bottlenecks
- You will be expected to approach problems methodically using data rather than assumptions.
Continuous Improvement
- Help improve:
- Operating procedures
- Data collection processes
- Crop selection strategies
- Yield performance
- Labor efficiency
- System reliability
- We are looking for individuals who continuously ask:
“How can this system perform better tomorrow than it did today?”
What Success Looks Like
Within your first 90 days, you should be able to:
- Independently operate the SimuPod system
- Maintain accurate daily operational records
- Identify emerging issues before they become failures
- Consistently follow standard operating procedures
- Contribute practical improvement recommendations
Within your first year:
- Improve production consistency
- Increase yield predictability
- Reduce operational errors
- Help establish scalable operating standards for future expansion
Required Qualifications
- Degree or Diploma in Agronomy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Crop Science, Aquaculture, Agricultural Engineering, or related field
- Strong understanding of plant production systems
- Ability to collect and analyze operational data
- Comfortable working with spreadsheets and digital record-keeping tools
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- High level of personal accountability
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with hydroponics or aquaponics
- Experience operating controlled-environment agriculture systems
- Experience with commercial crop production
- Experience maintaining operational records and reporting
- Familiarity with sensors, monitoring equipment, and agricultural technology
Critical Competencies
The ideal candidate demonstrates:
- Attention to Detail - Can identify small issues before they become major problems.
- Data Integrity - Treats operational data as a critical business asset and understands that inaccurate data leads to poor decisions.
- Systems Thinking - Understands how crops, fish, water chemistry, equipment, and operations interact.
- Discipline & Consistency - Can execute the same process accurately every day.
- Curiosity & Learning Mindset - Seeks continuous improvement rather than simply maintaining the status quo.
- Ownership Mentality - Acts as if the system belongs to them.
Compensation
Competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications.
How We Evaluate Candidates
Candidates will be assessed on:
- Operational thinking
- Agronomic knowledge
- Aquaponics understanding
- Data accuracy and record-keeping discipline
- Problem-solving ability
- Commercial awareness
- Continuous improvement mindset
A practical take-home assessment and system walkthrough will form part of the selection process.
- Perform daily inspections of crops, fish, water systems, pumps, filters, and infrastructure
- Execute germination, transplanting, harvesting, and crop maintenance activities
- Monitor crop growth and identify potential issues before they impact production
- Ensure fish health and feeding schedules are maintained
- Maintain cleanliness and biosecurity standards throughout the facility
- Record operational data accurately and consistently
- Track crop performance, yields, mortality, growth rates, water quality, and system performance
- Verify and validate collected data for accuracy
- Investigate inconsistencies and anomalies in records
- Maintain audit-ready operational logs
- Monitor and maintain pH, EC, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Fish feeding rates, Fish health indicators
- Identify trends early and take corrective action before issues escalate.
- Execute production schedules
- Maintain staggered planting cycles
- Support harvest forecasting
- Track productivity and yield performance
- Identify opportunities to improve crop quality and output
- Diagnose and resolve Plant nutrient deficiencies, Fish health issues, Water quality problems, Pump and circulation failures, Disease outbreaks, Production bottlenecks
- Help improve Operating procedures, Data collection processes, Crop selection strategies, Yield performance, Labor efficiency, System reliability
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Strong observational skills
- Commitment to data accuracy
- Ability to collect and analyze operational data
- Comfortable working with spreadsheets and digital record-keeping tools
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- High level of personal accountability
- Experience with hydroponics or aquaponics
- Experience operating controlled-environment agriculture systems
- Experience with commercial crop production
- Experience maintaining operational records and reporting
- Familiarity with sensors, monitoring equipment, and agricultural technology
- Attention to Detail
- Data Integrity
- Systems Thinking
- Discipline & Consistency
- Curiosity & Learning Mindset
- Ownership Mentality
- Degree or Diploma in Agronomy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Crop Science, Aquaculture, Agricultural Engineering, or related field
- Strong understanding of plant production systems
JOB-6a26a9e4380f7
Vacancy title:
Agronomist & Aquaponics Systems Operator
[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Professional Services, Category: Science & Engineering, Farming & Outdoors, Agribusiness, Agronomist]
Jobs at:
Hrvst
Deadline of this Job:
Monday, June 22 2026
Duty Station:
Lusaka | Lusaka
Summary
Date Posted: Monday, June 8 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed
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JOB DETAILS:
About SimuPod
SimuPod is a controlled-environment aquaponics and vertical farming system designed to produce high-quality crops through a repeatable, scalable, and data-driven operating model.
Our goal is not simply to grow plants. We are building a modern agricultural operating system where biology, engineering, operations, and data work together to create predictable outcomes.
We are looking for two highly disciplined Agronomists & Systems Operators who can help operate, monitor, improve, and scale the SimuPod platform.
The Role
This is a hybrid role combining:
- Agronomy
- Aquaponics
- Operations
- Data management
- Continuous improvement
You will be responsible for ensuring the daily health and performance of both the crop and fish production systems while maintaining accurate records and driving continuous optimization.
Success in this role requires exceptional attention to detail, strong observational skills, and a commitment to data accuracy.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Daily System Operations
- Perform daily inspections of crops, fish, water systems, pumps, filters, and infrastructure
- Execute germination, transplanting, harvesting, and crop maintenance activities
- Monitor crop growth and identify potential issues before they impact production
- Ensure fish health and feeding schedules are maintained
- Maintain cleanliness and biosecurity standards throughout the facility
Data Collection & Record Keeping
- Record operational data accurately and consistently
- Track crop performance, yields, mortality, growth rates, water quality, and system performance
- Verify and validate collected data for accuracy
- Investigate inconsistencies and anomalies in records
- Maintain audit-ready operational logs
Water Quality & Aquaponics Management
- Monitor and maintain:
- pH
- EC
- Water temperature
- Dissolved oxygen
- Ammonia
- Nitrite
- Nitrate
- Fish feeding rates
- Fish health indicators
- Identify trends early and take corrective action before issues escalate.
Crop Planning & Yield Management
- Execute production schedules
- Maintain staggered planting cycles
- Support harvest forecasting
- Track productivity and yield performance
- Identify opportunities to improve crop quality and output
Problem Solving & Troubleshooting
- Diagnose and resolve:
- Plant nutrient deficiencies
- Fish health issues
- Water quality problems
- Pump and circulation failures
- Disease outbreaks
- Production bottlenecks
- You will be expected to approach problems methodically using data rather than assumptions.
Continuous Improvement
- Help improve:
- Operating procedures
- Data collection processes
- Crop selection strategies
- Yield performance
- Labor efficiency
- System reliability
- We are looking for individuals who continuously ask:
“How can this system perform better tomorrow than it did today?”
What Success Looks Like
Within your first 90 days, you should be able to:
- Independently operate the SimuPod system
- Maintain accurate daily operational records
- Identify emerging issues before they become failures
- Consistently follow standard operating procedures
- Contribute practical improvement recommendations
Within your first year:
- Improve production consistency
- Increase yield predictability
- Reduce operational errors
- Help establish scalable operating standards for future expansion
Required Qualifications
- Degree or Diploma in Agronomy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Crop Science, Aquaculture, Agricultural Engineering, or related field
- Strong understanding of plant production systems
- Ability to collect and analyze operational data
- Comfortable working with spreadsheets and digital record-keeping tools
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- High level of personal accountability
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with hydroponics or aquaponics
- Experience operating controlled-environment agriculture systems
- Experience with commercial crop production
- Experience maintaining operational records and reporting
- Familiarity with sensors, monitoring equipment, and agricultural technology
Critical Competencies
The ideal candidate demonstrates:
- Attention to Detail - Can identify small issues before they become major problems.
- Data Integrity - Treats operational data as a critical business asset and understands that inaccurate data leads to poor decisions.
- Systems Thinking - Understands how crops, fish, water chemistry, equipment, and operations interact.
- Discipline & Consistency - Can execute the same process accurately every day.
- Curiosity & Learning Mindset - Seeks continuous improvement rather than simply maintaining the status quo.
- Ownership Mentality - Acts as if the system belongs to them.
Compensation
Competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications.
How We Evaluate Candidates
Candidates will be assessed on:
- Operational thinking
- Agronomic knowledge
- Aquaponics understanding
- Data accuracy and record-keeping discipline
- Problem-solving ability
- Commercial awareness
- Continuous improvement mindset
A practical take-home assessment and system walkthrough will form part of the selection process.
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 12
Level of Education: bachelor degree
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