Field Supervisor in Agriculture job description
A field supervisor leads work gangs in the fields each day, checks that sowing, spraying and harvest are done properly, and reports progress. Farms and agri companies need this link between plan and land.
Why the role exists
The field supervisor is the first line of management in the fields. The person reports to the farm manager or area manager and directs labour gangs, operators and sometimes contract farmers. Plans only work when someone checks the plot, the people and the inputs every day.
What the person does
- Brief labour gangs at the start of the shift and assign them to plots, rows or blocks.
- Check that sowing, transplanting, weeding and spraying follow the instructions given for each plot.
- Mark attendance of daily-wage workers and record work done against the day's plan.
- Issue seed, fertiliser and spray material from the store and return unused stock with a record.
- Watch crops for pest, disease and water stress signs, and report them to the manager the same day.
- Visit contract farmers' plots, note crop stage and advise them on the schedule set by the company.
- Supervise harvest picking, crating and loading so produce is handled with care and weighed properly.
- Send a short daily field report by phone message or register with area, labour and issues.
Skills and tools
- Reading a crop plan and turning it into tasks for a gang
- Identifying common pests, diseases and nutrient deficiency signs in local crops
- Spray dose and calibration basics, and safe use of protective gear
- Labour handling, attendance records and fair work allocation
- Basic use of a smartphone for photos, locations and daily reports
- Estimating area, rows and quantities in the field
- Two-wheeler travel across multiple plots in a day
- Clear communication in the local language with workers and farmers
Education and experience
Preferred, never a bar: equivalent experience counts.
- Preferred: diploma in agriculture or ITI, or equivalent experience as a gang leader or field assistant.
- Preferred: at least a couple of seasons working in the fields of a commercial farm or agri company.
- Useful: valid two-wheeler licence and comfort with daily travel over rural roads.
- Useful: ability to record information on a phone app or in a field register.
How the work is judged
- Share of planned field tasks completed on the day they were scheduled
- Quality of work seen on inspection, such as spacing, spray cover and clean harvest
- Accuracy of attendance, input issue and field reports
- How early pest, disease or water problems were reported to the manager
- Wastage and damage during harvest handling and loading
Where the role can lead
- Senior field supervisor or block in-charge for a larger area
- Farm manager or area manager for a farm, estate or contract farming zone
- Field officer or agronomy support role with an agri input company
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions in the same order and score them against written anchors, so the decision rests on the work and not the impression.
- Tell us how you start a day with a gang of workers who have never worked on this crop.
- How do you check that a spray was applied evenly when you cannot be at every row?
- A worker leaves midday and the harvest must go out that evening. What do you do?
- Describe a pest or disease problem you spotted early. How did you report it and what followed?
- How would you handle a contract farmer who ignores the schedule you have given?
- How do you keep honest records of labour days and input use during a busy week?
Hiring tips for this role
- Do a field visit as part of selection. Ask the candidate to walk a plot with you and say what they see about crop stand and labour.
- Ask about chemical safety habits. Confirm protective gear and any training needs with your own adviser, since requirements depend on your setting.
- Do not choose only the loudest gang leader. Look for someone who keeps records and reports problems early.
- Be clear about travel, reporting hours and seasonal peaks in the offer, as work can start before sunrise and run late during harvest.
Questions about hiring a field supervisor in agriculture
The person briefs gangs, checks the quality of sowing, spraying and harvest, issues inputs, records attendance and reports crop or labour issues to the manager before the day ends.
No. A diploma helps, but experience leading gangs and knowing local crops matters more. Test practical judgement in the field and the ability to keep simple records.
Yes, if the area is manageable. Define how many plots, how often visits happen and what is reported, otherwise the quality of both company and farmer fields suffers.
GullyHR agrees a clear job description, finds and screens candidates with real field experience, and supports your offer. This is permanent hiring for your farm or agri business.
Hiring a field supervisor in agriculture?
GullyHR runs talent acquisition for permanent roles. We agree the job description with you, find and screen candidates against it, and support the offer through to joining. We recruit permanent employees. We do not supply contract or temporary staff.