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UpMan Placements Private Limited · posted 2 months ago
AGRI BUSINESS HEAD
Soya Bean & Soya Meal | Commercial Leadership | Zimbabwe
Department Commercial / Agri-Trading Location Zimbabwe (regional travel)
Reports To Managing Director / Group CEO Industry Agri-Commodities / Oilseeds
Employment
Type Full-Time
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced Agri Business Head to lead the commercial agenda of our soya bean
and soya meal trading business in Zimbabwe. The successful candidate will own the end-to-end
commercial strategy — from sourcing and procurement of soya beans, through crushing and value
addition, to driving the sale of soya meal into the stock feed industry (poultry, dairy, pork, aquaculture,
and pet food manufacturers).
This is a senior, P&L-driving role with a strong B2B focus. The individual will build and manage key
accounts with stock feed millers, integrators, and large-scale livestock producers across Zimbabwe and
the wider SADC region.
Key Responsibilities
1. Commercial Leadership & Strategy
• Develop and execute the commercial strategy for the soya bean and soya meal business, aligned with
the company's overall growth targets.
• Own revenue, margin, and volume targets across the soya value chain (crush margins, meal sales,
and by-products).
• Conduct market mapping, competitor benchmarking, and pricing analysis for the soya meal segment.
2. Sales of Soya Meal to the Stock Feed Industry
• Drive B2B sales of soya meal to stock feed manufacturers, poultry integrators, dairy farmers, and
aquaculture operators.
• Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of key accounts; negotiate annual supply contracts and volume
rebates.
• Work with technical and nutrition teams to align product specs (e.g., protein %, oil content, moisture)
with customer formulation requirements.
3. Procurement & Soya Bean Trade
• Lead soya bean sourcing from local growers, contract farming schemes, and regional suppliers
(Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa where relevant).
• Manage crushing-margin economics and coordinate weekly/monthly procurement plans with the
operations team.
• Monitor international soya meal prices (CBOT / SAFEX / ZSAFE) and manage FX, hedging, and
import-export flows.
4. Customer & Market Development
• Identify and convert new B2B accounts across the stock feed value chain.
Confidential – Job Description | Agri Business Head (Soya) | Zimbabwe Page 2
• Develop the regional footprint of the soya meal brand; explore export opportunities into neighbouring
markets.
• Represent the company at industry forums, trade shows, and feed industry associations (e.g.,
Zimbabwe Poultry Association, Stockfeed Manufacturers' Association).
5. Business Operations & Reporting
• Prepare monthly P&L, volume, and margin reports for the soya business unit.
• Manage the commercial budget, CRM pipeline, and credit terms in coordination with finance.
• Ensure compliance with local regulatory bodies (e.g., GMAZ, ZIMRA, Agricultural Marketing
Authority).
6. Team Leadership
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small commercial team (sales, account management, and trader
support).
• Set KPIs, conduct performance reviews, and build succession depth within the unit.
Required Qualifications & Experience
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Commerce, Marketing, or a related field.
An MBA or postgraduate qualification in Agri-Business is a strong advantage.
• Industry Experience: Minimum 7–10 years of commercial experience in soya bean trading, soya
meal sales, oilseed processing, or the stock feed industry.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of the soya value chain — bean procurement, crushing
economics, meal specification, and by-products (oil, hulls).
• Familiarity with stock feed formulation requirements and the animal nutrition industry.
• Knowledge of the Zimbabwean and SADC agri-commodity markets (ZSAFE, SAFEX, CBOT pricing
mechanics).
• Commercial Track Record: Demonstrated success in B2B sales leadership, growing revenue, and
managing key accounts in a commodity-driven environment.
Preferred (Not Essential)
• Africa experience — prior work across African markets, especially Southern Africa, is highly valued
but not a strict requirement. Equivalent experience in emerging markets or international commodity
trading will be considered.
• Established network among stock feed millers, integrators, and agri-traders in the region.
• Exposure to contract farming models and smallholder farmer engagement programmes.
• Multilingual ability (English required; Shona / Ndebele an advantage for local market engagement).
Key Skills & Attributes
• Strong commercial and negotiating acumen — comfortable closing six- and seven-figure supply
contracts.
• Entrepreneurial, P&L-driven mindset — accountable for top-line growth and margin performance.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with a farmer-, miller-, and integrator-friendly approach.
• Cross-cultural fluency — able to operate effectively in both local Zimbabwean and
regional/international trading contexts.
• Resilient, self-directed, and comfortable in a lean, fast-moving commodity trading environment.
• Proficiency in Excel, CRM systems, and ERP (SAP / Microsoft Dynamics / similar).
Compensation & Benefits
Confidential – Job Description | Agri Business Head (Soya) | Zimbabwe Page 3
Base Salary USD 6,000 – 7,000 per month (negotiable for exceptionally qualified candidates).
Performance
Bonus
Quarterly / annual incentive linked to volume sold, margin achieved, and new
account acquisition.
Benefits Company vehicle / travel allowance, fuel, phone, medical aid contribution, and
statutory benefits (pension, NSSA) as per Zimbabwean labour law.
Relocation Support available for the right candidate relocating to Zimbabwe.