You will identify and partner with private sector / commercial entities to develop value chain offerings for our smallholder farmers. You will also design and implement trials of new commercial strategies, contributing to the economic growth and sustainability of Ugandan farmers. Your success will lead to increased commercial opportunities and, therefore, income for our farmers.

Reporting to the Head of Commercial Strategy and Execution, you will work with external organizations and require a high level of autonomy.

Responsibilities

Business Development (40%)

• Establish partnerships with commercial entities, including buyers, processors, and distributors, to develop value chain offerings for smallholder farmers in Uganda.
• Assess market opportunities for crops, such as chia, coffee, and other high-value crops.
• Negotiate terms and legal agreements / contracts with commercial partners to ensure mutual benefit and sustainability for One Acre Fund, our farmers and our partners.

Commercial Innovations:(20%)

• Design and implement trials, in collaboration with Field Facing / Execution teams, of different commercial strategies to enhance the economic viability of smallholder farmers.
• Develop and test approaches to link farmers with markets and improve their market access, e.g. Establish crop certification processes and ensure farmers meet these standards with training and support.

Stakeholder Engagement:(30%)

• Collaborate with our teams, including Field-facing, Impact, and other Commercialisation staff ( particularly the Head of Commercial Strategy & Execution), to align commercial initiatives with organizational goals.
• Engage with community leaders, farmer cooperatives, and other partners to support commercial innovations.
• Represent us in meetings, conferences, trade fairs, and forums related to value chains in which One Acre Fund Uganda is involved (or planning to be be involved) agriculture.

Monitoring and Evaluation (10%)

• In collaboration with the MEL team, develop and implement monitoring and evaluation plans to assess the impact of commercial strategies.
• Collect and analyze dataa to measure success and identify areas for improvement.
• Present reports on business development and commercial innovation activities to partners and funders.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in business development, market access, commercial strategy, or related roles, preferably in the agricultural sector.
• Understanding of agricultural value chains (preferably in Coffee, Macadamia, Chia, Avocado, Maize, Beans, Groundnuts, and/or Agroforestry products) and market dynamics.
• Experience establishing and managing commercial partnerships