Require a Produce Sourcing Specialist in Nairobi, Kenya
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Job Summary
Produce Sourcing & Supply Chain Management
- Farm Scouting & Vendor Acquisition: Regularly visit farms and agricultural regions to identify evaluate and onboard reputable farmers and commercial growers of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Procurement & Price Negotiation: Negotiate farm-gate pricing supply volumes and harvest schedules to meet market demand while maintaining cost efficiency.
- Quality & Yield Planning: Build seasonal supply projections for key produce lines and establish out-grower networks to secure consistent year-round inventory.
Agronomy & Technical Support
- Field Audits & GAP Compliance: Conduct pre-harvest inspections to ensure farm management practices align with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) minimum residue limits (MRLs) and client quality standards.
- Crop Advisory: Provide technical agronomic advice to partner farmers regarding soil nutrition pest and disease management irrigation schedules and optimal harvesting windows.
- Post-Harvest Loss Prevention: Train farmers and field harvesters on proper harvesting techniques handling sorting and field-level cooling/packaging to protect shelf life.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
- Inspect harvested fruits and vegetables at the field level prior to dispatch to ensure strict adherence to weight color size and defect specifications.
- Implement traceability protocols to track produce back to specific farm locations and harvest batches.
- Monitor pest and chemical residue risks ensuring all sourced produce meets regulatory and food safety requirements.
- Education: Bachelors degree or Diploma in Agronomy Horticulture Agricultural Economics Agriculture or a closely related field.
- Experience: Minimum of 35 years of practical experience in field agronomy fresh produce sourcing or commercial horticulture management.
- Sourcing Expertise: Demonstrated track record of farm-level procurement negotiating with farmers/out growers and managing supply chains for perishable fruits and vegetables.
- Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of fruit and vegetable pest/disease profiles harvest maturity indices soil chemistry and post-harvest handling.
- Mobility: Valid driving/riding license alongside a willingness to travel extensively to rural farms agricultural zones and packhouses.
Required Skills:
Responsibilities: Supervise and lead a team of production workers including training scheduling and performance management. Provide guidance and support to ensure production targets and quality standards are met. Plan and coordinate production schedules to meet deadlines and optimize workflow. Ensure that machinery and equipment are operating correctly and safely. Enforce safety protocols and procedures to maintain a safe working environment. Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. Identify opportunities for process improvement and implement changes to enhance productivity and efficiency. Collaborate with other departments to streamline operations and resolve production issues. Maintain accurate production records including output downtime and quality reports. Prepare and submit regular reports on production performance and issues to management. Monitor inventory levels and coordinate with the supply chain to ensure timely availability of materials. Manage stock control and ensure that production materials are used efficiently. Requirements: Bachelors degree in industrial engineering manufacturing business management or a related field is preferred. Relevant work experience may be considered. Minimum 1-2 years of experience in a production or manufacturing environment. Previous supervisory or leadership experience is preferred.
