Head, Farmers Support Services

Responsibilities:

Strategy and Leadership:

• Develop and execute the strategic plan for the Farmers Support Services department, ensuring alignment with Kitovu’s mission and business objectives.
• Drive the team’s annual work plans, targets, and KPIs, ensuring measurable performance outcomes.
• Lead and manage the FSS team to ensure high morale, strong accountability, and consistent delivery.

Farmers Service Centers (FSC):

• Oversee the establishment, operations, and performance of Farmers Service Centers (FSCs) across all regions.
• Ensure each FSC functions as a commercial and impact hub, offering input supply, aggregation, mechanization, and extension services.
  
• Build business models and standard operating procedures that make FSCs self-sustaining.

Platform Optimization and Service Delivery:

• Optimize YieldMax, AgriStore, and Vifaa platforms for farmer acquisition, retention, and revenue generation.
• Collaborate with the Technology & Innovation team to ensure platform features respond to field realities and farmer needs.
• Expand access and digital literacy for farmers to increase adoption and transaction volumes.

Storage, Aggregation, and Post-Harvest Operations:

• Manage storage services and the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) to ensure efficiency and profitability.
• Oversee aggregation systems that ensure quality control, traceability, and market consistency.
• Drive partnerships with off-takers, processors, and logistics providers for smooth market access.
• Integrate digital tools like Titan/WareGuard to monitor warehouse conditions in real time.

Partnerships and Business Development:

• Identify and secure strategic partnerships with development agencies, financial institutions, and private sector players to fund and scale farmer services.
• Work with the Impact Growth & Partnerships Manager to identify and pursue funding opportunities.
• Represent Kitovu in stakeholder meetings, industry events, and partnership negotiations.

Revenue Growth and Financial Performance:

• Develop and execute revenue strategies for all farmer-facing services (input sales, aggregation, mechanization, advisory).
•  Monitor and manage departmental P&L performance.
• Implement pricing models and financing systems that suit smallholder realities.

Farmer Impact and Relationship Management:

• Ensure farmers receive consistent value, improved productivity, reduced losses, and better market access.
• Lead farmer education, extension, and climate-smart practice adoption programs.
• Collect and analyze impact data to report on farmer income growth and yield improvement.

Collaboration and Reporting:

• Work closely with other Heads (Commodities, Technology & Innovation, Impact Growth & Partnerships) to ensure synergy and execution alignment.
•  Prepare periodic reports on team performance, revenue, and impact.
• Provide insights and recommendations to guide executive decisions.

People and Process Excellence:

• Recruit, train, and mentor team members and field officers.
• Build scalable systems for farmer management, service delivery, and monitoring.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, efficiency, and innovation aligned with Kitovu’s SALUT values (Service, Agency, Loyalty, Urgency, Tenacity).

Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience
• Minimum of a BSc
• Team leadership
• Field operations management
• Farmer Engagement
• Agronomy knowledge
• Input distribution coordination
• Performance tracking (KPIs) Data analysis & reporting
• Problem-solving Conflict resolution
• Stakeholder management
• Territory planning Quality control Communication skills
• Accountability & discipline
• Strategic thinking
• Risk management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Decision-making under pressure