Outgrowers Manager

Key Responsibilities

1. Green Leaf Quality Management

The manager is responsible for ensuring all green leaf supplied by outgrowers meets the companys stringent quality standards which is critical for the final made tea quality.

• Enforce Quality Standards: Train and supervise Extension Officers and Green Leaf Clerks to enforce the accepted quality standards.
  
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs): Design oversee the implementation and continuously improve farm management programs that promote GAPs including optimal fertilizer application pruning cycles pest and disease control and soil management as guided by organizations like the Tea Board.
  
• Post-Harvest Handling: Ensure correct leaf handling practices including hygienic plucking proper aeration during collection and preventing leaf breakage or scorching to maintain freshness until delivery at the factory.
  
• Quality Monitoring: Implement systems for regular quality checks and rejection of substandard leaf at collection centres providing constructive feedback to farmers.
  

2. Green Leaf Volume and Supply Chain Management

A core duty is ensuring a reliable and predictable supply of green leaf to meet the factorys processing capacity and market demand.

• Production Forecasting: Continuously monitor and review green leaf production levels across the outgrower base and provide precise forecasts of green leaf availability to the factory.
  
• Target Achievement: Develop strategies and initiatives to help outgrowers acquire the necessary resources (inputs credit training) and skills to increase farm utilization yield and overall tea production volumes.
  
• Recruitment and Engagement: Manage the recruitment registration and contracting of new outgrower farmers in line with company policy and tea industry regulations. Maintain an up-to-date and accurate database of all registered farmers.
  
• Logistics Coordination: Coordinate with transporters and operations department to ensure timely and efficient collection weighing and transportation of green leaf from collection points to the factory.
  
• Deter Side-Selling: Implement strategies to build loyalty and trust with farmers to mitigate the risk of farmers selling their tea to competing buyers ("side-selling").
  

3. Farmer Certification and Compliance

The manager must drive the agenda for mandatory and voluntary certification to access premium export markets and ensure legal compliance.

• Certification Implementation: Lead and manage the process for achieving and maintaining various international sustainability certifications such as Rainforest Alliance (RA) or other relevant standards.
  
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all outgrowers adhere to relevant Kenyan laws including the Crops Act (Tea Industry Regulations) labor laws and environmental standards.
  
• Training and Audits: Conduct training for farmers and staff on certification requirements internal quality management systems and food safety standards. Prepare the outgrower scheme for external audits.
  
• Documentation and Traceability: Establish and maintain robust record-keeping systems for farm management plans input use yield data and farmer registration to ensure the traceability of green leaf from farm to factory.
  

4. Outgrower Relations and Extension Services

The manager serves as the primary link between the company and the farmers.

• Extension Services: Supervise and mentor the team of Extension Officers to provide effective technical advisory services and training on best agronomic practices to farmers.
  
• Conflict Resolution: Address and resolve outgrower complaints disputes and other issues in a timely and fair manner.
  
• Stakeholder Liaison: Liaise with key external stakeholders including the Tea Directorate (AFA) County Government officials financial institutions input suppliers and community leaders.
  

5. Administration and Financial Management

• Budget Management: Prepare and manage the departmental budget for the outgrower program controlling expenses for inputs extension activities and staff.
  
• Reporting: Track monitor and report on the overall performance of the outgrower program including production volumes quality metrics farmer compliance and socio-economic impact.
  

Academic Qualifications

• A Bachelors degree in a relevant field Agronomy Agriculture Agricultural Economics Horticulture Crop Science Agricultural Extension or a related discipline is required.
  
• A Masters degree in a relevant field is a distinct advantage.
  

Relevant Experience

• A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in agricultural outgrower scheme management or extension services preferably within the tea coffee or high-value perennial crop sectors.
  
• Proven experience in successfully managing a large team of field staff including Extension Officers.
  
• Demonstrable success in achieving and maintaining international agricultural and sustainability certifications such as Rainforest Alliance (RA) or similar standards is essential.
  
• Extensive knowledge of Kenyan agricultural regulations including the Crops Act (Tea Industry Regulations) and labor and environmental laws.
  

Competencies

Technical and Leadership Competencies

• Deep Agronomic Knowledge: Exceptional understanding of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) including soil management fertilizer application pest and disease control and pruning cycles.
  
• Green Leaf Quality Management: Proven ability to implement and enforce stringent quality standards from farm to factory including post-harvest handling and quality monitoring systems.
  
• Supply Chain and Logistics: Strong skills in production forecasting logistics coordination and managing a reliable high-volume supply chain.
  
• Certification and Compliance: Expert knowledge of setting up traceability and record-keeping systems for certification and ensuring full legal and regulatory compliance.