Releaf is a Logistics and Value Addition platform for African Food Factories, focusing on the palm kernel oil industry. This crop focus can, however, shift to other crops over time. Their solution is simple, they source, light-process, and deliver raw materials needed by agricultural factories in Nigeria. At first glance, they are just a procurement and supply company. Yet, their stellar innovation is in leveraging their proprietary smart-processing technology. This technology helps increase the amount of addressable, quality material sourced directly from smallholding farming communities thus aiding these farmers in connecting to better-paying processing companies in the most convenient ways possible.

The dynamism of their solution is how they have come to outperform competitors who rely on traders. When you think about this "competition", you can think Afex, Olam or Flour mills. However, Their difference from the pack is implemented by their "hybridization" of highly engaging farmer relationship management; proprietary hardware processing, and strong logistics functions.

They are a company founded by a group of young American Nigerians who studied at MIT, Duke, and Yale with experience at elite global firms McKinsey, General Electric, Bain, and Facebook. The Firm is supported by Pres. Adesina of AfDB, Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture & funded by Y Combinator and Bill Gates' investment firm BEV. They have raised a total of $1M seed round funding and processing Annual Revenue Run-rates of $500K. They have created 40+ jobs working with 1000+ smallholder farmers in Southern Nigeria

Role Summary

Releaf’s Capital Projects Vice President will work directly with the CTO on matters related to the project management, construction, and optimization of capital projects, generally factories and Releaf’s pre-processing technology. Technologies deployed will include Releaf’ de-shelling technology, palm kernel crushing mills, palm kernel refineries, and solid biomass power generation stations. The VP will be solely responsible for quickly completing capital projects, managing projects, procurement, and vendor management (parts, construction firms, etc.) It is of great importance as a venture capital-backed firm that we quickly deploy capital projects, ramp them up, and stabilize operations with utilization above 90% (22-hour daily up-time). This role is for an experienced construction professional and/or engineer (civil, structural). A strong performer will feel + be treated as a founding member of Releaf with the opportunity to earn equity in the firm with a strong performance.

Experience/Qualifications

Previous Occupations 

Professional engineer with extensive independent drafting and planning experience, with AutoCAD (or equivalent). Delivered 2+ capital projects of $5M+ in Nigeria owning the entire process end to end. Ideally, employed by a private equity-backed firm or other fast-paced business environments. Additionally, experience in oil palm and/or biomass & power generation projects are preferred.

Analytical/Modeling Capability: Exceptional ability to plan projects (Gant charts, Excel, etc.)

Skills Training: None; applicants expected to lead and deliver results from day one

Mandate, Virtues, and Operating Principles

Dependency Mitigation: Anticipates and mitigate bottlenecks; mindset of delays being unacceptable 

Zero Defect, Analytical Tactician: Instinctive financial modeler, quick estimator, error-free analyzer

Strategist: Fully grasps Firm priorities and is a leading contributor to strategic optimizations.

Contrarian: Firmly presents conclusions of rigorous analysis, especially when different from Founders’.

Talent Coach: Track-record of rigorous direct report professional development; enforcer of firm KPIs.

Creator zero to one: Build structures from nothing where deficiencies are personally observed and able to understand the Job to Be Done when given directives; speed to output is key