Head of Supply Chain at Seed Co Nigeria Limited

Job Description

• The Head of Supply Chain will be responsible for leading and managing the Production, Processing, and Security units.
• This role is crucial for ensuring a reliable supply of the production plan volume, delivered safely, on time, in full (OTIF), and within budgeted COGS and quality standards.
• The primary crop is maize, accompanied by secondary crops like rice, cowpeas, and sorghum.
• The position will also involve close collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure seamless alignment of supply chain activities with business strategy, regulatory requirements, and market demand.

Primary Responsibilities
Seed Production:

• Formulation of the production strategy for the business unit
• Deliver production, contracting, planting and delivery plans as agreed in the signed-off performance contract
• Strictly plant seed production fields (supply plan) in line with the demand & dispatch plan submitted by the demand office
• Proactively manage the parent seed program in tandem with the growth plan espoused in the GPS strategy - the outcome is to minimize shortages, excessive orders & impairment
• Collaborate seamlessly with the seed processing, quality assurance, logistics and sales & marketing functions to ensure the OTIF is fulfilled
• Development of a reliable seed grower base and implement the signed off irrigated hectare growth plan
• Compliance of seed production standards with regulatory, internal and international quality standards
• Ensure that certified seed produced meets all set quality (genetic & physical) thresholds – lab GPT for parent seed, minimum 95% & certified seed, minimum 95%
• Implement parent seed bulking and lead adoption of best practices
• Implement an effective people development program
• Drive innovation and continuous process improvement to enhance productivity
• Expected to establish yourself as one of the technical anchors value-chain wide, internally & externally
• Ensure compliance to NASC regulation

Seed Production Research (SPR)

• Establish an SPR unit on maize and all other relevant crop species
• Implement the signed-off SPR workplan for the production location for the relevant season
• Ensure the SPR function is adequately resourced to deliver on all agreed targets, majorly productivity improvement – through optimization of planting splits, populations, patterns & chemistry permutations
• Benchmark SPR progress with other group production locations

Seed Processing:

• Timely and efficient seed processing and packaging
• Accountable for maintenance of all equipment & machinery
• Ensuring all processed seed meets market requirements
• Work with GPS personnel to ensure all initiatives espoused
• Optimize the resource requirements of the processing unit in line with GPS standards

Other Responsibilities

• Logistics (Local, exports & imports)
• GPS Strategic Alignment
• SHE and Security
• Financial & Operational Management

Requirements

• BSc Degree in Crop Science or Agriculture Management
• MSc Degree in Agriculture is an added advantage
• Master’s in Business Administration/ Master of Science Strategic Management/MBL
• 8 years of working experience within a seed business or related field with at least three years at a senior leadership level.

Skills and Competences:

• Agronomy and certified seed production
• Contract farming management
• Post-harvest handling and processing
• Strategic Leadership
• Regulatory and compliance acumen
• Stakeholder engagement
• People skills
• Continuous improvement & problem-solving
• Integrity and accountability
• Effective verbal and written communication
• Financial and business acumen.