Overview

Reporting to: Operations Director

Location: Lilongwe

Good Nature is a legume seed company founded to profitably move farmers out of poverty and into the middle class. We believe that the future of agriculture in Africa is disaggregated, with smallholders as the most powerful producers for local, regional, and global markets. We have designed our systems to be personal yet scalable. We have overseen consistent annual growth in our supply chain (currently at 4,720 small-scale seed producers), production, grower income (now 300% of baseline) and company revenue, as our growers learn and become more efficient.

We are now at a point of inflection: expanding beyond Zambia, adding new product lines and revenue streams, and strengthening our services to both growers and customers with investments in technology and integrated market access for customers of Good Nature Seed. This expansion has included additional investment in property and machinery to cater for processing the additional production.

Position Purpose

Since 2014, Good Nature Agro success has been driven by a deep commitment to small-holder farmers, the highest-quality training and products, and our innovative approach to system change.
In the next 18 months, we will be embarking on a bold growth trajectory including:

  • Building further R&D capabilities for breeding seed with IP across SADC
  • Expanding further operations into Malawi
  • Increasing exports and other new business lines
  • Scale our innovative new sales strategy, Good Nature Source
  • Growing our leadership team and investing in talent development
  • Reaching more than 30,000 farmers with ‘Seed + Service’ offering of training, market access
  • Reaching more than 250,000 farmers with quality seed

Role: Role: Ultimately responsible for the sustainable development, growth, management and performance of GNA’s Malawi Business unit.

1. Strategy

  • Support in the creation of a Strategic Operational Plan for Good Nature Agro Malawi.
  • Establish GNA as a recognized seed supplier in Malawi and establish a producer base for seed production and R&D.
  • Identify opportunities for strategic investment in Malawi that can further GNA’s mission and business
  • Create, implement, and manage the annual budget for Malawi.

2. Production

  • Build a production pipeline of commercial and emergent growers to produce high-class, high- quality seed and further trial new varieties and practices.
  • Support GNA’s R&D Team in establishing and overseeing variety trials to facilitate release of new varieties in Malawi and SADC.
  • Ensure compliance with all regulatory bodies overseeing seed production and cross-border trade.

3. Sales & Partnerships

  • Develop business opportunities in Malawi through engagement with commercial buyers and agribusinesses, grower networks, service providers, and aid institutions.
  • Lead engagement with GNA’s current sales pipeline in Malawi – inclusive of Source – with a focus on collaborative growth and high-quality service.
  • Identify and engage new potential customers, either direct or through the Source model.
  • Collaborate with GNA Sales team to establish multi-year and single-season sales plans.

4. People Management

  • Lead and manage the activities and development of GNA’s Malawi team.
  • Forecast staffing needs for in-Country expansion.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 10 years’ experience in the agricultural sector in a mid-senior management role.
  • Malawian citizen
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in agricultural science, business administration or related field.
  • Extensive experience in the seed industry – sales, production and business unit management an asset
  • Ability to engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholder networks.
  • Penchant for developing high-performing teams.
  • Strong operator with an entrepreneurial mindset

Expression of Interest:

To apply for this position, send your Cover letter clearly explaining what makes you a Good Candidate for this Position and your CV with a maximum of 3 traceable referees to jobs@goodnatureagro.com and Please include ‘Malawi Country Manager’ in the subject of your email application.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Good Nature Agro is an equal opportunity employer and qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply.