Outgrowers Manager at Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF)

Based in Nairobi (with frequent travel to the East African Countries)

The client is a non-political, non-profit, umbrella organization in Eastern Africa. Its membership comprises of small holder farmers through their member associations and co-operatives.

In 2012, the client put together a new strategic plan whose focus is entrepreneurship. The new strategic framework thus seeks to enhance economic service delivery to the members by creating a more accountable leadership to their membership and a strong management team with an entrepreneurship focus.

The client therefore has set up a business vehicle to achieve this goal and has further invested in mobile technology to make this possible with respect to data collection and analysis of farmers with the intention of linking them to input, output and service markets. We are therefore looking for highly qualified candidates for the post of Outgrowers manager.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish a business model that is economically and agronomically viable for small holder farmers/ co-operatives and farmer groups.
• Coordinate agriculture extension services - ensure that farmers have the skills and means to maximize productivity and quality including input use, agronomy, field trials, co-operatives development, record keeping, post-harvest management, business training etc.
• To plan and schedule the entire production and post-production programs including planting schedules, coordinate input access and delivery, agronomy plans, training, harvesting and aggregation in line with contractual obligations.
• Be proactive to advice on potential and actual production risks and mitigation measures e.g. risks associated with climate, pest, credit, social etc.
• Management and reporting on the field team activities
• Manage data (accurate) regarding farmers including analysis to help in making decisions such as offer for loans/ insurance/ hire of machinery services/ production forecast/logistics and any new investments.
• Develop and maintain relationships with private sector, public sector and development, local leaders, banks among others
• Be able to make professional presentations to different audiences.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Formal education/ Minimum Master’s degree in Agricultural, horticulture or related studies.
• At least 3-5 years working experience; above 28 years of age.
• Experience in managing an outgrower scheme/ contract farming
• Experience in advising and training farmers,
• Have a network of potential partnerships with inputs providers, service providers, governments etc.
• Flexible and able and willing to frequent travel in East Africa.
• Diplomatic skills to develop partnership with governmental and business entities
• Demonstrable experience in writing reports and proposals.
• Committed to smallholder farmers’ economic development
• Appreciative communication skills and attitude
• Fluent in English (French would be an asset)
• Computer literate (MS Office)
• Respectful and patient attitude, pro-active, convincing and target-driven
• Self-geared (able and willing to work independently)
• Generalist: eager to learn other topics and expand skills

CONTRACT DURATION

The selected candidate will be offered a Three year renewable employment contract with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds.

Desired start As soon as possible.