Category Manager – Banana
Job Location:
Monthly Salary:
Experience Required:
Posted on:
13 hours ago
Posted on:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Key Responsibilities
1. Category Launch & Cluster Development
- Lead the end-to-end launch of the Banana category across assigned clusters in Maharashtra.
- Identify high-potential banana-growing regions based on acreage farmer density production volume and market opportunity.
- Develop and execute cluster-wise launch plans to ensure successful service adoption.
- Build relationships with farmers FPOs traders local influencers labour contractors and execution partners.
- Standardize launch processes and create scalable operating playbooks for expansion.
2. Banana Fruit Care Operations
- Design implement and scale banana fruit care services including bunch covering propping deleafing bunch management bagging spraying and other crop-stage-specific interventions.
- Define service execution standards SOPs productivity benchmarks quality parameters and pricing models.
- Monitor service quality farmer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Continuously improve service offerings based on field observations and farmer feedback.
3. Harvesting Operations Management
- Build and manage organized harvesting labour teams across operational clusters.
- Ensure timely availability of skilled labour during peak harvesting periods.
- Oversee harvesting execution quality standards productivity attendance and coordination with farmers and transport partners.
- Minimize execution delays and resolve on-ground operational challenges.
4. Farmer Acquisition & Relationship Management
- Drive farmer acquisition through field visits demonstrations referrals and community engagement.
- Build long-term relationships with progressive farmers village leaders traders and farmer groups.
- Manage the complete customer lifecycle from enquiry to booking execution feedback and repeat business.
- Address farmer concerns pricing discussions escalations and service recovery.
5. Labour Supply & Workforce Development
- Develop and manage a reliable network of local and migrant labour for banana operations.
- Recruit train and evaluate labour teams to ensure adherence to quality standards.
- Create cluster-wise labour deployment plans based on seasonal demand forecasts.
- Monitor labour productivity attendance discipline and retention.
6. Operations & Execution Excellence
- Coordinate with sourcing allocation field operations and customer-facing teams to ensure seamless service delivery.
- Monitor daily operations including job allocation fulfilment attendance productivity service quality and customer feedback.
- Resolve operational bottlenecks and ensure timely execution across clusters.
- Implement structured daily weekly and seasonal operational review mechanisms.
7. Category Strategy & Business Growth
- Develop category growth strategies for banana services across new and existing markets.
- Build pricing models considering labour costs productivity margins and farmer affordability.
- Track key business metrics including revenue fulfilment rate repeat usage customer satisfaction and unit economics.
- Identify opportunities for service bundling process improvements and geographical expansion.
- Provide regular insights and recommendations to leadership for scaling the category efficiently.
8. Data Reporting & Process Improvement
- Maintain accurate operational data service reports productivity metrics and performance dashboards.
- Analyse field performance to identify improvement opportunities.
- Recommend process enhancements to improve operational efficiency customer experience and profitability.
- Support the development of technology-enabled workflows and digital adoption within field operations.
9. Cross-functional Collaboration
- Collaborate closely with Product Operations Agronomy Supply HR and Leadership teams.
- Ensure alignment between demand generation labour availability and operational execution.
- Support new service launches pilot programs and continuous process innovation.
Requirements
Must-Haves 48 years of experience in agri operations category management field sales rural business agri-inputs procurement labour operations or marketplace operations. Strong understanding of Maharashtras banana-growing regions and farmer networks. Ability to work deeply on the ground across villages and clusters. Comfort managing farmers labourers supervisors and local stakeholders. Strong execution mindset with the ability to handle ambiguity and operational pressure. Ability to build processes from scratch not just follow existing systems. Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills. Willingness to travel extensively across banana clusters.
Preferred Backgrounds Strong candidates may come from:
Agri-input companies.
Agri-tech startups.
Farmer advisory or crop service companies.
Rural distribution businesses.
Fresh produce procurement or sourcing roles.
Labour contractor or field operations businesses.
Hyperlocal marketplace logistics or cluster operations roles. Experience in banana horticulture fruit care harvesting or Maharashtra agri markets will be a strong advantage.
Personality Fit
You will do well in this role if you are:
Deeply comfortable on the ground.
Farmer-first in your thinking.
Commercially sharp and operationally hands-on.
Able to build trust quickly in rural markets.
Calm when execution breaks.
Strong with both systems and people.
Comfortable taking ownership without waiting for instructions.
Practical fast-moving and detail-oriented.
Required Skills:
Must-Haves 48 years of experience in agri operations category management field sales rural business agri-inputs procurement labour operations or marketplace operations. Strong understanding of Maharashtras banana-growing regions and farmer networks. Ability to work deeply on the ground across villages and clusters. Comfort managing farmers labourers supervisors and local stakeholders. Strong execution mindset with the ability to handle ambiguity and operational pressure. Ability to build processes from scratch not just follow existing systems. Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills. Willingness to travel extensively across banana clusters.
