Job Description: Livestock Manager

Position: Livestock Manager 

Reporting to: CEO and CFO Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Summary: The Livestock Manager will play a pivotal role in building sustainable relationships with new and existing livestock supply bases to meet market demands. This position is instrumental in realizing the company's growth targets and expansion plans. The successful candidate will join a small management team of experienced professionals and contribute to the business's expansion and growth. They should be commercially aware, highly motivated, and possess a combination of practical experience and knowledge of livestock procurement and production.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop and maintain relationships: Act as the primary point of contact for livestock producers, spending time to understand their needs, identify changes, and cultivate relationships with current and new suppliers.
2. Livestock procurement and classification: Apply proven experience in livestock procurement and carcase classification to maintain and improve the quality of livestock supply.
3. Enhance Livestock Procurement System (LPS): Develop and improve the company's Livestock Procurement System, utilizing analytical skills and best practices to turn business requirements into efficient, well-structured, and documented solutions.
4. Project management: Manage livestock-related projects, including procurement, development, and other initiatives as necessary.
5. Market analysis and negotiation: Review and negotiate contracts with suppliers/farmers, producer groups/mandis, and transporters. Conduct market analysis, identify new farmers and suppliers, and negotiate for the best prices.
6. Logistics management: Ensure safe and efficient logistics for livestock transportation, including planning delivery, developing own fleet/logistics if feasible, and cooperating with transporters.
7. Collaborative approach: Actively promote working relationships with suppliers, production team, and directors to achieve shared objectives.
8. IT and process improvement: Provide input to IT and Finance teams for developing applications supporting livestock procurement processes. Apply knowledge to solve defined business problems and contribute to process improvement efforts.
9. Documentation and reporting: Develop documentation for systems and processes related to livestock procurement. Prepare reports and documentation as required.
10. Team management: Hire, mentor, coach, and develop employees in the Livestock department. Foster a supportive and productive team environment.
    

Requirements:

1. Excellent knowledge of the livestock industry.
2. Strong market research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
3. Exceptional communication and organizational abilities.
4. Negotiation skills: Ability to negotiate livestock prices and supply contracts effectively.
5. Leadership skills: Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions and provide leadership.
6. Time management: Capable of working under pressure to meet deadlines.
7. Collaborative approach: A team player who is flexible, reliable, and respectful in their interactions.
8. Process improvement: Ability to listen, understand, and facilitate process improvements.
9. Supplier satisfaction: Demonstrate a commitment to supplier satisfaction and maintain positive working relationships.
10. Travel requirement: Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time, including road travel to meet suppliers/farmers and visit mandis.
11. Independence and multitasking: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, multitask, and manage time efficiently.
12. Preferred qualifications: An agricultural or similar farming qualification is a plus. Previous commercial experience with livestock farming, logistics management, complex project management, or new business/operations is a plus. .