AGRICS Business Manager Job in Kakamega, Kenya

Function Title: Business Manager Agrics Kenya
 

Reports to: Agrics Kenya General Manager
 

Location: Kakamega, Kenya
 

Summary: AGRICS is a social enterprise registered in Kenya that focuses on socioeconomic intervention among smallholder farmers in rural Kenya and Tanzania through provision of quality farm input credit packages to, currently, about 20,000 households thus reaching about 100,000 people. 

This intervention addresses smallholders’ limited access to quality and requisite farm inputs like certified seeds and fertiliser because they are generally availed on a cash basis, while the planting period coincides with the hunger months and return of children to school.

In collaboration with sister organization ICS and other partners including the local government’s agriculture departments, AGRICS provides farmer training on basic agronomy and extension services through its field coordinators and community facilitators ; building the farmers’ capacity is crucial for the higher farm productivity to be achieved for increased food security and higher household income.

The Business Manager is responsible for overseeing and supervising Agrics’ day to day commercial activities and employees, including (currently) 6 Field Coordinators and 60 Community Facilitators. 

S/he organises and oversees all operations, including sales, procurement, distribution and credit repayment and at the same time makes sure that Agrics is on track to meet its financial goals. 

S/he also develops and implements budgets, prepares financial reports to the General Manager and ensures commercial staff have the resources to implement their work efficiently.

Responsibilities
 

Business Management

• Develop annual operating plan and budget to deliver planned profitable growth and impact to ensure success in meeting committed goals.
• Manage agribusiness activities focusing on financial and strategic objectives of the organization.
• Assess the performance of the organisation against goals and plans, using both business and impact indicators, and prepare reports for senior management;
• Analyze data in order to make informed decisions;
• Manage cost and credit repayment rates.

Sales and business development

• Maintain close contact with customers, being smallholder farmers, farmer groups and cooperatives, to gain insight into their needs as well as general market requirements;
• Grow the number of customers in the working areas according to agreed objectives;
• Ensure optimal price setting for next year’s packages offered;
• Further develop the package offered based on demand and (financial) analysis.

Procurement and distribution

• Initiate and oversee the procurement process according to the Agrics business cycle;
• Negotiate with potential suppliers to ensure optimal price levels;
• Oversee and supervise the end to end distribution of inputs from supplier to farmer
• Develop new (social) business opportunities in the field of agribusiness;

People Management

• Perform human resource activities such as hiring and performance evaluations;
• Ensure staff have the resources to complete their work and build their capacity where required;
• Motivate workers through incentives and constructive feedback.

Interested candidates to send their detailed CVs and testimonials to icsro@icsafrica.org by 2nd December 2014