Branch Manager - for Cocoa Producing Company job at RCS Consult

Job Advert: Branch Manager - for Cocoa Producing Company

Employment Type: Full-time

On behalf of our client, a Cocoa Producing Company, we seek to recruit and interview for a Branch Manager to lead our branch operations and contribute to the growth of our business.

Key responsibilities:

1. Operations Management:

• Lead, supervise, and motivate a team of permanent and temporary staff, ensuring high productivity and a positive work environment.
• Oversee staff training programs on quality standards, health and safety protocols, and operational procedures.
• Ensure clear communication between departments and foster a culture of teamwork and accountability. Conduct performance reviews and mentor branch staff
• Oversee the cocoa purchasing process from registered farmers (organic, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, any other certification, and conventional), ensuring compliance with certification standards from all storekeepers.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory obligations, food safety and other laws relevant at the branch.
• Oversee the management of cocoa processing factories for certified and conventional premises to ensure quality control of organic and conventional products, including production planning and resource allocation.
• Oversee warehouse operations, ensuring proper storage, handling, and inventory management.
• Ensure that quality of all products is maintained at the highest standards.
• Coordinate the use and maintenance of the branch's vehicle fleet, ensuring safe and efficient transportation of cocoa and vanilla from the field to the factory.

2. Trading:

• Work with the commercial director and their team to increase purchase volumes and margins at the branch.
• Manage the field buyers and storekeeper teams directly to ensure honesty, compliance, quality and volumes.
• Manage relationships with external suppliers.

3. Strategic Planning and Resource Management:

• Oversee the development of the strategic plan and lead the development and periodic review of the branch's strategic plans, ensuring that goals and objectives are aligned with the mission and long-term vision of Company Uganda Limited.
• Identify and assess growth and expansion opportunities in the Bundibugyo region, including new farmer registrations, market trends, and emerging risks.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with farmers and local stakeholders. Support and address their concerns, and act as a liaison between Company and farmers.
• Promote sustainable farming and transformational development with various initiatives.
• Support the implementation of CSR and other initiatives.

4. HR and Resource Mobilization and Allocation:

• Develop and implement resource mobilization strategies to secure the necessary financial, human, and material resources to achieve branch objectives.
• Ensure effective allocation and utilization of resources, including budget management, to support purchasing, processing, and logistics activities while minimizing waste and maximizing profitability.
• Coordinate the development of detailed work plans for each branch department, including purchasing, processing, logistics, and farmer engagement activities.
• Establish performance objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) for various branch functions and monitor progress to ensure timely achievement of objectives.
• Establish partnerships with local government entities, NGOs, and financial institutions to access financing opportunities and support for sustainable agricultural initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including the Regional Manager and the Company Uganda central team, to ensure the alignment of branch strategies with overall business objectives.
• Regularly analyse the branch's operational performance, providing insights and recommendations for improvement to senior management.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on progress toward strategic objectives, resource utilization, and the impact of implemented strategies, ensuring transparency and accountability in branch operations.

5. Risk Management and Mitigation Planning:

• Conduct risk assessments related to branch operations, including market fluctuations, certification compliance, and supply chain challenges.
• Develop contingency plans to address potential risks and ensure branch resilience in the face of operational challenges or market disruptions.

6. Financial and Resource Management:

• Develop and manage the branch budget, ensuring cost-effective use of resources and compliance with financial objectives.
• Monitor purchasing activities and maintain accurate financial records related to purchasing, processing, and transportation.
• Identify opportunities for cost saving and efficiency improvement at the branch. Save costs where possible.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in cocoa/coffee trading and procurement and managing field teams and farmer-based programs.
• Experience in cocoa/vanilla value chains and cooperatives preferred.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English (written and oral).
• Fluent in at least one of the following languages: Rutooro, Lubwisi, Lukonzo, Kwamba.
• Working proficiency in French and/or Swahili desired.

Personal Qualities

The ideal candidate for this role is an ethical leader with strong integrity, who will do the right thing even when no-one’s watching.

They also have:

• High attention to detail, organisational and planning skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, from field to boardroom.
• A passion for the sustainability and regenerative agriculture.

• Lead, supervise, and motivate a team of permanent and temporary staff, ensuring high productivity and a positive work environment.
• Oversee staff training programs on quality standards, health and safety protocols, and operational procedures.
• Ensure clear communication between departments and foster a culture of teamwork and accountability. Conduct performance reviews and mentor branch staff
• Oversee the cocoa purchasing process from registered farmers (organic, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, any other certification, and conventional), ensuring compliance with certification standards from all storekeepers.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory obligations, food safety and other laws relevant at the branch.
• Oversee the management of cocoa processing factories for certified and conventional premises to ensure quality control of organic and conventional products, including production planning and resource allocation.
• Oversee warehouse operations, ensuring proper storage, handling, and inventory management.
• Ensure that quality of all products is maintained at the highest standards.
• Coordinate the use and maintenance of the branch's vehicle fleet, ensuring safe and efficient transportation of cocoa and vanilla from the field to the factory.
• Work with the commercial director and their team to increase purchase volumes and margins at the branch.
• Manage the field buyers and storekeeper teams directly to ensure honesty, compliance, quality and volumes.
• Manage relationships with external suppliers.
• Oversee the development of the strategic plan and lead the development and periodic review of the branch's strategic plans, ensuring that goals and objectives are aligned with the mission and long-term vision of Company Uganda Limited.
• Identify and assess growth and expansion opportunities in the Bundibugyo region, including new farmer registrations, market trends, and emerging risks.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with farmers and local stakeholders. Support and address their concerns, and act as a liaison between Company and farmers.
• Promote sustainable farming and transformational development with various initiatives.
• Support the implementation of CSR and other initiatives.
• Develop and implement resource mobilization strategies to secure the necessary financial, human, and material resources to achieve branch objectives.
• Ensure effective allocation and utilization of resources, including budget management, to support purchasing, processing, and logistics activities while minimizing waste and maximizing profitability.
• Coordinate the development of detailed work plans for each branch department, including purchasing, processing, logistics, and farmer engagement activities.
• Establish performance objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) for various branch functions and monitor progress to ensure timely achievement of objectives.
• Establish partnerships with local government entities, NGOs, and financial institutions to access financing opportunities and support for sustainable agricultural initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including the Regional Manager and the Company Uganda central team, to ensure the alignment of branch strategies with overall business objectives.
• Regularly analyse the branch's operational performance, providing insights and recommendations for improvement to senior management.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on progress toward strategic objectives, resource utilization, and the impact of implemented strategies, ensuring transparency and accountability in branch operations.
• Conduct risk assessments related to branch operations, including market fluctuations, certification compliance, and supply chain challenges.
• Develop contingency plans to address potential risks and ensure branch resilience in the face of operational challenges or market disruptions.
• Develop and manage the branch budget, ensuring cost-effective use of resources and compliance with financial objectives.
• Monitor purchasing activities and maintain accurate financial records related to purchasing, processing, and transportation.
• Identify opportunities for cost saving and efficiency improvement at the branch. Save costs where possible.

• High attention to detail, organisational and planning skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, from field to boardroom.
• Passion for sustainability and regenerative agriculture.

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in cocoa/coffee trading and procurement and managing field teams and farmer-based programs.
• Experience in cocoa/vanilla value chains and cooperatives preferred.
• Fluency in English (written and oral).
• Fluent in at least one of the following languages: Rutooro, Lubwisi, Lukonzo, Kwamba.
• Working proficiency in French and/or Swahili desired.