About the Role

StartHub Africa is looking for a full-time Sourcing and Aggregation Officer to ensure that all raw materials and inputs for in-house production, and for SMEs where relevant, are available on time, at the right price and in the right quality.

The role includes working with farmer groups and cooperatives, setting up aggregation and storage for key crops, and managing imports of cashew nuts and other products.

Experience matters more to us than formal qualifications.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sourcing Raw Materials and Inputs

• Source raw materials (e.g. beans, nuts, grains, honey), packaging, stickers and other inputs for in-house production.
• Help SMEs in our programmes find raw materials and inputs where needed.
• Plan purchases with the Manufacturing Lead so production never stops because something is missing.
• Find suppliers, get quotes, negotiate prices and follow up on deliveries.
• Keep a list of reliable suppliers for everything we buy.
• Follow market prices and seasons, and advise on the best time to buy.

2. Quality

• Agree with the Manufacturing Lead and Food Scientist what good quality looks like for each input.
• Check everything that comes in (e.g. moisture, dirt and stones, mould, damaged grain, packaging faults) and reject what is not good enough.
• Work with suppliers and farmers to fix quality problems.
• Record where every batch of raw material came from.

3. Farmer Groups and Cooperatives

• Find and build strong, long-term relationships with farmer groups, cooperatives and other suppliers.
• Agree on supply with them: quantities, quality, price and payment.
• Train farmers on our quality needs and good drying, sorting and storage.
• Know which crops are available where and when, so we have supply all year.
• Make sure farmers and suppliers are paid correctly and on time.

4. Aggregation, Bulking and Storage

• Start and manage buying selected crops in bulk, including collection, weighing and grading.
• Set up and manage our stores, including first in, first out, pest control, keeping produce dry and keeping the store clean.
• Keep stock records correct and up to date in our system (Odoo), and inform the Manufacturing Lead in good time when stock is running low.
• Keep losses during storage as low as possible.

5. Imports

• Handle imports of cashew nuts and other products, from finding a supplier to delivery at our premises.
• Compare suppliers on the full cost, including transport, taxes and clearing.
• Work with clearing agents to get the right documents and permits and clear goods through customs.
• Track shipments so goods arrive on time and in good condition.

6. Records and Reporting

• Keep all quotes, orders, delivery notes and invoices in order.
• Keep an up-to-date list of suppliers, farmer groups and cooperatives, with contacts, prices and quality.
• Give a short monthly report on what was bought, prices, stock levels and any problems.

7. Integrity and Safeguarding

• Follow StartHub Africa’s procurement policy, including getting competitive quotes.
• Declare any conflict of interest, and never accept gifts, commissions or favours from suppliers.
• Comply with StartHub Africa’s safeguarding policy, share reporting channels with farmer groups, and report concerns promptly.

What Success Looks Like in the First 6 Months

• Reliable suppliers in place for all key raw materials, packaging and stickers.
• Supply agreements with farmer groups or cooperatives for all our key crops.
• Aggregation and bulking running for at least one key crop, with proper storage.
• No production delays because inputs were missing or poor quality.
• Stock records in Odoo match what is physically in the store.

Key Skills and Experience required:

Essential

• At least 3 years’ experience sourcing or aggregating agricultural produce (e.g. grains, beans, nuts).
• Hands-on experience with aggregation and managing storage.
• Experience working with farmer groups and cooperatives.
• Able to judge the quality of produce (e.g. moisture, grading, mould).
• A good negotiator who is good with numbers.
• Honest, organised and careful with records.
• Basic computer skills (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and willing to learn new systems.
• Willing to travel often within Uganda, including to rural areas.

Added Advantage

• A certificate, diploma or degree in agriculture, agribusiness, procurement or a related field.
• Experience importing goods, including working with clearing agents and customs.
• An existing network of farmer groups, cooperatives or suppliers.
• Experience with cashew nuts, beans, white sorghum, millet, soy, honey, chia seeds, green pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
• Fluency in Luganda or other local languages.
• A valid driving or motorcycle license.

• Source raw materials (e.g. beans, nuts, grains, honey), packaging, stickers and other inputs for in-house production.
• Help SMEs in our programmes find raw materials and inputs where needed.
• Plan purchases with the Manufacturing Lead so production never stops because something is missing.
• Find suppliers, get quotes, negotiate prices and follow up on deliveries.
• Keep a list of reliable suppliers for everything we buy.
• Follow market prices and seasons, and advise on the best time to buy.
• Agree with the Manufacturing Lead and Food Scientist what good quality looks like for each input.
• Check everything that comes in (e.g. moisture, dirt and stones, mould, damaged grain, packaging faults) and reject what is not good enough.
• Work with suppliers and farmers to fix quality problems.
• Record where every batch of raw material came from.
• Find and build strong, long-term relationships with farmer groups, cooperatives and other suppliers.
• Agree on supply with them: quantities, quality, price and payment.
• Train farmers on our quality needs and good drying, sorting and storage.
• Know which crops are available where and when, so we have supply all year.
• Make sure farmers and suppliers are paid correctly and on time.
• Start and manage buying selected crops in bulk, including collection, weighing and grading.
• Set up and manage our stores, including first in, first out, pest control, keeping produce dry and keeping the store clean.
• Keep stock records correct and up to date in our system (Odoo), and inform the Manufacturing Lead in good time when stock is running low.
• Keep losses during storage as low as possible.
• Handle imports of cashew nuts and other products, from finding a supplier to delivery at our premises.
• Compare suppliers on the full cost, including transport, taxes and clearing.
• Work with clearing agents to get the right documents and permits and clear goods through customs.
• Track shipments so goods arrive on time and in good condition.
• Keep all quotes, orders, delivery notes and invoices in order.
• Keep an up-to-date list of suppliers, farmer groups and cooperatives, with contacts, prices and quality.
• Give a short monthly report on what was bought, prices, stock levels and any problems.
• Follow StartHub Africa’s procurement policy, including getting competitive quotes.
• Declare any conflict of interest, and never accept gifts, commissions or favours from suppliers.
• Comply with StartHub Africa’s safeguarding policy, share reporting channels with farmer groups, and report concerns promptly.

• Sourcing agricultural produce
• Aggregating agricultural produce
• Managing storage
• Working with farmer groups and cooperatives
• Judging the quality of produce
• Negotiation
• Record keeping
• Basic computer skills (Excel or Google Sheets)
• Willingness to learn new systems
• Willingness to travel often within Uganda, including to rural areas
• Importing goods
• Working with clearing agents
• Working with customs
• Experience with cashew nuts, beans, white sorghum, millet, soy, honey, chia seeds, green pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
• Fluency in Luganda or other local languages
• Valid driving or motorcycle license

• At least 3 years’ experience sourcing or aggregating agricultural produce (e.g. grains, beans, nuts).
• Hands-on experience with aggregation and managing storage.
• Experience working with farmer groups and cooperatives.
• Able to judge the quality of produce (e.g. moisture, grading, mould).
• A good negotiator who is good with numbers.
• Honest, organised and careful with records.
• Basic computer skills (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and willing to learn new systems.
• Willing to travel often within Uganda, including to rural areas.
• A certificate, diploma or degree in agriculture, agribusiness, procurement or a related field.
• Experience importing goods, including working with clearing agents and customs.
• An existing network of farmer groups, cooperatives or suppliers.
• Experience with cashew nuts, beans, white sorghum, millet, soy, honey, chia seeds, green pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
• Fluency in Luganda or other local languages.
• A valid driving or motorcycle license.