The Senior Agribusiness Supply Chain Advisor will serve as the primary liaison with retail partners under the Inclusive Retail Market Access program. This position is responsible for co-creating and executing commercially viable, inclusive sourcing models that integrate emerging suppliers, including smallholder-linked producers, aggregators, and SMEs. The role combines technical know-how in agribusiness and sourcing systems with strong facilitation, relationship management, and program execution skills to support inclusive transformation in horticultural value chains

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Retail Partner Engagement:

Act as the main point of contact for retail partners throughout co-design and implementation phases.

Facilitate retailer assessments to identify operational readiness and sourcing opportunities.

Lead structured workshops and meetings to co-develop inclusive sourcing action plans.

Support alignment of retailer priorities with program objectives and supplier capabilities

Inclusive Sourcing Model Development:

Support the co-creation of sourcing frameworks tailored to different retail business models.

Develop strategies to address systemic barriers including price transparency, supplier onboarding, and delivery logistics.

Coordinate with suppliers and retailers to formalize pilot models through contracts and procurement planning.

Monitor early performance indicators and adapt model components as needed.

Capacity Building for Suppliers:

Facilitate delivery of targeted training and technical support for suppliers in areas like quality assurance and postharvest handling.

Provide input on tools, templates, and standard operating procedures to institutionalize supplier-readiness practices.

Support troubleshooting during onboarding and contract execution to ensure supplier compliance with retail standards.

Learning, Documentation, and Coordination:

Contribute to development of knowledge briefs and business case documentation for retailer engagement.

Document lessons learned and support scale-up recommendations based on implementation experience.

Coordinate closely with internal program teams, technical advisors, and MEL specialists to align execution with overall strategy.

Basic Qualifications:

Minimum 5 years of experience in agribusiness, supply chain management, market systems, or inclusive business models, with a Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Development Studies, or a related field.

Experience managing commercial relationships in food systems or horticulture markets. Successfully negotiated and managed long-term partnerships with key stakeholders across the food value chain, enhancing market access and profitability.

Required Languages: Fluency in English and Kiswahili.

Travel: Travel up to 30%.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working in East Africa’s horticulture or retail food sectors. In-depth understanding of the dynamics and challenges within East Africa’s horticulture or retail food sectors, with demonstrated success in implementing strategic initiatives.

Familiarity with donor-funded agriculture market development programs. Hands-on experience in managing or supporting donor-funded projects, with a strong grasp of compliance, reporting, and impact assessment requirements.