Head of Farm Operations

What is Grow For Me (Short)?
Grow For Me is an AgriTech platform that provides input financing, commodity aggregation and a trading platform to farmers and investors. Through our sustainable agricultural practices, we help farmers sequester carbon and offset the impact of climate change in the world.

We are solving SDG 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9 problems by creating wealth and producing more food at the same time. By 2030 the Agricultural industry will be valued at $USD 1 trillion with a population of 1.6 Billion. Our vision is to make food affordable and accessible to all.

Solutions we have?
We have four solutions that address specific problems in Grow For Me. The solutions are GFM Crowdfunding Platform (CFP), GFM - Farm Monitoring Platform (FMP), GFM - Micro Aggregator Platform (MAP) and GFM - Off-Taker Platform.

GFM - Crowdfunding Platform (CFP) enables us to raise funds from individuals to fund crop production (input financing for farming) and commodity trading (trade financing for commodity aggregation and trade).

GFM - Farm Monitoring Platform (FMP) enables us to monitor farms we have funded remotely (using satellite technology) and in person via extension workers.

GFM - Micro Aggregator Platform (MAP) enables a farmer to sell his harvest directly to a warehouse and get paid instantly. We also provide input financing, micro-financing to aggregators in rural areas via mobile money to purchase commodities directly from farmers in farming communities, normally cut off from major markets.

GFM - Off-Taker Platform (OTP) Off-takers are updated on the progress of the aggregation process and the prices while providing the best quality commodities on the market via GCX warehousing Systems or private warehouse owners.

Grow For Me has access to a million-plus farmers in farming communities across Ghana through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Crops Department). Grow For Me has proven a sustainable business model that makes co-creation, co-finance, and commercialization for community growth possible. Our deep passion is to see smallholder farmers come out of poverty and, become financially independent farmers while producing more food and creating jobs. 

The position of Head of Farm and Farmers Vertical is a key leadership role within GrowforMe, responsible for overseeing all aspects of farming and farmer-related products and activities in our operational areas. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of agricultural practices, operations, and sustainable farming techniques. The successful candidate will be tasked with building and leading a team of zonal managers and field workers to recruit, onboard farmers, provide input financing, train, and achieve high levels of productivity, environmental sustainability, and a 95% retrieval rate of in-kind paybacks from farmers. 

1.  Strategic Planning and Execution
• Develop and implement strategic plans for recruiting and onboarding farmers into GrowForMe’s Micro Aggregator Platform.
•  Develop and execute short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals for input financing, crop production, sustainable agricultural practices, and retrieval of harvest.
•  Develop and execute short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals for farmer-related products that improve the lives and livelihoods of farmers.
•  Set quarterly, annual and monthly KPIs to enable the company and drive the successful execution of projects to achieve the set KPIs
•  Collaborate with other departments to align farm operations with overall company objectives. 
  
2. Team Leadership and Management:
   
• Recruit, train, and onboard zonal managers and field workers to execute strategic plans outlined by the Head of Farms and Farmers.
  Lead, mentor, and manage a team of agronomists, Zonal Managers, and field staff.
•  Foster a positive work environment, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
•  Set performance targets and evaluate team members’ performance regularly. 
  
3. Operational Area:
• Define and select specific operational areas that GrowForMe should focus on.
•  In addition to existing areas, which include Upper Northern, Northern, Middle, and South East and South West Ghana, you will select and include new areas that must be included in our operations.
•  Extend GrowForMe’s farmer and farming activities to locations where our partners would execute projects together. eg. PFJ 2 in Gushiegu, Ashanti Region, Akrofuom Obuasi Municipality, and Eastern Region, Yilo Krobo Municipal.
4. Farmer Recruitment and onboarding:
   
• Oversee the recruitment, and onboarding of 50,000 farmers and input financing of 10,000 farmers for 2024.
•  Our Target for the next three years is to have 1,000,000 farmers on MAP
•  Training of farmers on existing automated voice programs on MAP
•  Oversee the creation and addition of new automated voice programs on MAP
• Increase the livelihood of farmers and raise them out of poverty by enabling them to increase their production volume.
  
5. Crop Management:
•  Oversee the monitoring of crop health, growth, and yield across all operational areas
  
• Implement best practices for planting, irrigation, fertilization, and pest control.
  
• Ensure compliance with safety and quality standards. 
6. Resource Management:
   
• Manage farm resources, including land, water, machinery, and labour.
  
• Optimise resource allocation to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
  
• Evaluate and implement sustainable practices to conserve natural resources. 
  
7. Research and Innovation:
   
• Stay informed about advancements in agronomy, crop science, and technology.
  
• Collaborate with research institutions and industry experts to drive innovation.
  
• Experiment with new techniques and technologies to enhance productivity. 
  
8. Budgeting and Financial Management:
   
• Prepare and manage the farm operations budget.
  
• Monitor expenses, revenue, and profitability.
  
• Make informed decisions to optimize financial performance. 
  
9. Quality Assurance and Compliance:
•  Ensure adherence to quality standards for crops and produce.
  
• Comply with local, national, and international regulations related to agriculture.
  
• Implement food safety protocols. 
  
10. Assistance with grant and fundraising efforts:
    
• Provide support, information, data, direction, and assistance in raising funds and grants.
  
• Comply with local, national, and international regulations related to agriculture. 
  

Qualification: 

• BSc in Agronomy or Agricultural Sciences: A strong educational background in agronomy, crop science, or related fields.
• A Master’s Degree in any related field, such as management, finance, or agriculture.
• Minimum 5 years of Experience: Managing teams, multiple locations and people.
• Domestic Travel: Willingness to travel up to 50% to client sites.
• Telecommuting: Ability to work remotely 

Benefits:

Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Benefits: Insurance, retirement plans, and profit commission generated from farm retrievals.

Work Environment: Collaborative and dynamic work environment with growth opportunities.

Commitment: Full-time position with a commitment to excellence and sustainability.