Title: Horticulture Digital Supply Chain Manager
Reports to: Program Director
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Grade: 9
Contract: 9 months
ABOUT TECHNOSERVE:
At TechnoServe, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better life. For over 50 years, we have given smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs the skills, connections, and confidence to lift themselves out of poverty. We leverage the power of markets and the private sector to create sustainable economic growth to benefit people and the planet. Our unique mix of business solutions, deep knowledge of local contexts, and data-driven insights is helping to fight poverty across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
TechnoServe staff are local–95% are from the countries in which they work. We put a high premium on collaboration and entrepreneurship. We hold ourselves and each other to the highest standards of integrity and transparency. And we focus on delivering lasting impact for our mission.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Globally, 30–40% of food is wasted, according to FAO estimates. In Kenya, the WHO reports that only 2% of the population meets the daily recommended intake of fruits and vegetables, with average consumption at just 140g per person. At the same time, discarded fruits and vegetables contribute to 6-8% of greenhouse gas emissions from food waste—fuelling climate change and global warming.
TechnoServe funded by Gates Foundation and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) launched a three-year innovative program – NutriSave – with dual and equal objectives to reduce food loss and waste by redirecting surplus fruits and vegetables to wholesalers and retailers serving low-income communities to increase access and nutrition. After a deep exploratory phase using Human-Centered Design, formative research and market analysis with key ecosystem actors, TechnoServe is now developing and piloting sustainable models with partners committed to scaling and sustaining the initiative long-term.
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Horticulture Digital Supply Chain Manager to lead the coordination, digitization, and optimization of the supply chain for surplus or imperfect fruits and vegetables. This role bridges the gap between farms and B2B buyers (retailers, informal market traders, pilot partners) while ensuring food safety compliance, minimizing loss, and maximizing value recovery.
Primary Functions & Responsibilities:
- Responsible for coordinating the rescue of surplus or imperfect fresh fruits and vegetables from farm gate to retailers, with food safety compliance and managing logistics for perishable transport, and planning inventory to match B2B demand.
- Design, implement, and manage a digital supply chain system for imperfect or surplus fruits and vegetables leveraging B2B marketplace platforms.
- Design and implement a digital supply chain system using existing AgriTech platforms, custom ERP tools, or Excel-based workflows.
- Collaborating with buyers (retailers, informal market traders, pilot partners) to streamline sourcing, order fulfilment, quality assurance and delivery performance.
- Track produce movement, quality, and inventory in real-time.
- Develop dashboards and reports for visibility and data-driven decisions.
- Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for food safety compliance across the supply chain, aligned with HACCP principles.
- Conduct risk assessments and critical control point identification for harvesting, transport, handling, and storage processes.
- Train staff, aggregators, makeshift kitchens( vibanda) and logistics partners on hygiene practices, traceability, and corrective actions in line with HACCP.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field
- 7+ years’ experience in digital agriculture, supply chain operations, or B2B marketplaces – ideally within fruit and vegetables or perishables.
- Proficiency in Excel- familiarity with AgriTech platforms or supply chain ERPs.
- Understanding of market systems, postharvest handling, and the challenges of perishable goods logistics.
- Experience working with farmers, aggregators, or food distribution networks and – understanding of crop cycles, perishability in fruit and vegetables is a plus.
- Required Languages: Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills, including fluency in Kiswahili and English languages.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and negotiation skills.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of an innovative team driving digital transformation in the agriculture and food sector, reducing food loss, improving farmer incomes, and increasing access to fresh produce in low income communities.
- Opportunity to shape inclusive and tech-forward supply chains that benefit people and the planet.
Applications close on 23rd April 2025
We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe’s vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.
