Long-term research by GCF and partners has clearly identified four distinct species of giraffe in Africa – Masai, Southern, Northern and Reticulated giraffe, with several subspecies. All four giraffe species and their subspecies live in geographically distinct areas throughout Africa and there are only a total of approx.

About the Role

• Giraffe Bioenergy is looking for an experienced leader to serve as their Full-time Agriculture Director, who will lay the groundwork for our premier 1000 Hectare nucleus farm and oversee its expansion over the next five years to 35,000 Hectares. They will be responsible for personnel hiring and management, overseeing farm operations, meeting agricultural growing requirements and running a block farmer program with nursery trials.
• Giraffe Bioenergy is a fast-growing start-up, and our Agricultural Director will be at the heart of our work, ensuring we meet critical early-stage funding milestones. We need a leader who can work independently, problem-solve, and be a thought partner to envision the future of our nucleus farm and related programming.

This position reports to the CEO  and will be based in Kilifi County, Kenya.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Oversee the  management and growth of Giraffe Bioenergy’s commercial cassava nursery at Dodosa – Baricho to ensure the necessary seed inputs are available for commercial agricultural expansion.
• Plan and lead all aspects of establishing a 1,000 HA cassava farm to produce ample feedstock for the Giraffe Ethanol Biorefinery by mid-2025
  • Ensure all infrastructure (i.e. irrigation, road networks, etc.) and proper agricultural planning (i.e. land preparation) is demonstrated on land owned and/or leased by Giraffe Bioenergy in Kilifi County for the production of feedstock
  • Create a farm work plan (i.e. planting and harvesting schedule) linked to maximising efficiency and yields of cassava as feedstock for ethanol production
  • Assess all risks associated with large-scale commercial cassava farming and build work plan to mitigate risks that could affect harvesting and yields of feedstock
  • Support research into purchasing or leasing equipment
  • Lead the installation of new agricultural equipment and ensure fluency with its use
  • Ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of all assets
  • Ensure complete alignment of agricultural infrastructure with biorefinery infrastructure
• Lead and manage a diverse agricultural staff of > 50% women
• Determine the size of the farm workforce required to meet Giraffe agricultural goals.
• Lead outreach and sourcing to find available agricultural workers, with a special focus on recruiting women.
• Screen candidates to find hardworking, humble and caring workers for the farm
• Train staff on appropriate planting practices, identification of pests and diseases, use of agricultural equipment, appropriate harvesting, etc.
• Develop and manage a clear, organised schedule and reporting structure for the workforce.
• Provide clear guidance and direction to all workers and regular feedback on performance.
• Lead on necessary HR-related work, including contract negotiations, terminations, etc.
• Maintain compliance with all relevant regulations and safety standards.
• Ensure a culture of professionalism, respect, equity and inclusion at all times.
• Lead on farm surveying and data collection of pertinent growth and yield data of cassava on all Giraffe Bioenergy farms
  • Develop and implement standard operating procedures for all farm activities to ensure compliance with agronomic requirements and relevant research protocols.
  • Plan, collect and maintain accurate records of all research activities, including data on crop yields, plant growth, and other relevant metrics.
• Oversee the development of an Outgrower Program
  • Work with Giraffe Bioenergy leaders to design an outgrower program we’ll use to plant up to 200 hectares in 18 months testing key hypotheses to develop an outgrower program.
  • Recruit several hundred farmers willing to participate in the program with clear terms of service
• Lead training, input distribution, observation, troubleshooting support, and data collection.
• Plan a quarterly budget for staffing, equipment maintenance, and other expenses.
• Track and ensure we stay on budget through monthly reconciliations.
• Develop and implement cost savings measures where appropriate.
• Liaise with critical local political and community organisations and individuals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university in agronomy or agricultural science
• 10+ years of experience building a fast-growing agricultural venture and management experience in Africa.
• Experience managing large-scale farms or plantations of a minimum of 5,000 ha with relevant knowledge and experience in land preparation and operational management.
• Experience managing outgrower programmes.
• Demonstration of early-stage agricultural business development and management practices
• Experience in crop estimation and yield forecasting, as well as working with various crops, especially cassava, is preferred.
• Experience with proper and diverse irrigation management.
• Knowledge in sourcing hard-to-find talent, administering the disciplinary procedure, managing budgets and handling personnel administration.
• Experienced with computers, can create and maintain spreadsheets.
• Experience with data collection and strong numeric skills
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to a strong team culture and build and maintain strong working relationships with various stakeholders, including the local community and political organisations.
• A team player comfortable self-managing multiple priorities and partners concurrently thrives in the face of change and uncertainty and is motivated to drive projects forward in the field.
• A humble, hardworking leader with a track record of producing results and attention to detail.
• Strong professional verbal, written, visual communication and presentation skills
• Tech-savvy and experienced in  Google Workspace,Microsoft Office, social media and PR
• Positive, encouraging, collaborative attitude.