Website Q-Sourcing Limited
Project Lead – Grain Storage & Aggregation
Location Uganda, with significant time expected at the project site
Reporting Line Managing Director / Project Steering Committee
Business Stage Inception and Phase 1 implementation
Focus Area Grain aggregation, cleaning, drying, storage, quality control, warehousing and offtake
Role Purpose
The General Manager / Project Lead will be responsible for leading the setup, implementation and early-stage operations of a new grain storage and aggregation business. The first phase of the project will focus on grain aggregation, cleaning, drying, storage, quality control, warehousing and commercial offtake. The role requires a practical, hands-on agribusiness leader who can move the project from concept to full operational readiness and then lead the business through its initial operating phase.
The ideal candidate should combine grain operations experience, project execution capability, commercial discipline, farmer/aggregator relationship management and strong operational controls.
Key Responsibilities
- Project Setup and Implementation
- Lead the Phase 1 implementation of the grain storage and aggregation project.
- Support finalization of site layout, operational flow, intake systems, drying, cleaning, storage and dispatch processes.
- Coordinate with equipment suppliers, contractors, engineers, consultants and internal stakeholders.
- Operations Management
- Set up and manage the day-to-day operations of the grain storage facility.
- Establish intake, cleaning, drying, storage, bagging, bulk loading and dispatch procedures.
- Grain Aggregation and Supplier Development
- Develop and manage relationships with farmers, farmer groups, commercial farms, aggregators, traders, cooperatives and institutional suppliers.
- Build reliable grain supply channels to support the storage facility.
- Support farmer and supplier education on quality standards, moisture levels, harvesting and post-harvest handling.
- Develop transparent pricing, weighing, grading and payment processes.
- Quality Control and Post-Harvest Risk Management
- Establish grain quality control systems from intake to dispatch.
- Commercial and Financial Management
- Support development of the commercial model for aggregation, storage, drying, cleaning and offtake.
- Identify and develop relationships with buyers including millers, feed manufacturers, traders, processors, exporters and institutional buyers.
- Systems, Controls and Reporting
- Establish standard operating procedures for all key operational areas.
- Implement strong inventory controls, stock reconciliation and traceability systems.
- Set up daily, weekly and monthly reporting dashboards covering intake, stock, quality, losses, sales, costs and margins.
- Work with finance and ERP teams to ensure proper system integration and controls.
- Prevent risks related to theft, stock loss, weighing manipulation, supplier collusion and quality fraud.
- Team Leadership
- Recruit, train and manage the initial project and operations team.
- Build a disciplined, accountable and performance-driven team culture.
- Supervise key roles including operations, quality control, warehouse, maintenance, procurement, logistics and administration.
- Set clear KPIs and performance standards for the team.
- Future Growth and Expansion
- Support planning for future phases including additional storage, animal feed production, human food processing and value addition.
- Provide practical recommendations on expansion based on Phase 1 operating experience.
- Build the foundation for a scalable agro-industrial platform.
Required Experience and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration or a related field.
- 8-15 years relevant experience in grain storage, grain trading, agro-processing, milling, animal feed, warehousing, commodity aggregation or large-scale post-harvest operations.
- At least 5 years in a senior operational or general management role.
- Strong experience with maize and/or soybean value chains is highly preferred.
- Experience managing silos, grain dryers, cleaners, warehouses, weighbridges or related post-harvest infrastructure is an advantage.
- Experience setting up or managing a new project, facility, plant or business unit is highly desirable.
- Regional experience in East Africa, especially Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania, would be an added advantage.
To apply for this job please visit qsourcing.zohorecruit.com.