Manager – Agri Business (Sourcing, Procurement & Biomass)

Department: Operations
Location: Lahore, with frequent field travel across Punjab
Reporting To: COO

Key Responsibilities

1. Agricultural Sourcing & Market Intelligence

Identify and develop sourcing networks across major agricultural and crop-producing regions of Punjab.
Maintain a practical understanding of crop calendars, harvesting seasons, production clusters, mandi networks, market prices, crop yields and regional commodity availability.
Develop crop-wise and area-wise sourcing strategies for wheat, maize/corn, paddy/rice, sesame and other relevant agricultural commodities and their by-products.
Recommend what to buy, from which area, at what time, in what quantity and at what indicative price, considering seasonality, market trends, quality, logistics and expected demand.
Monitor commodity price movements, supply-demand trends, crop estimates and market risks.

2. Procurement & Commercial Management

Lead end-to-end procurement, including supplier identification, negotiations, rate finalization, contracting, purchase planning, quality checks, weighing, documentation and delivery.
Develop long-term relationships with farmers, aggregators, commission agents, millers, processors and other suppliers.
Prepare procurement budgets, buying plans, commodity-wise cost sheets and landed-cost analysis.
Ensure transparent procurement practices, accurate weight measurement, reconciliation and compliance with approved commercial controls.
Monitor supplier performance, procurement margins, working capital utilization and inventory exposure.

3. Biomass & Agricultural Residue Business

Develop sourcing, procurement and sales strategies for wheat straw, corn cobs, rice husk, sesame straw and other commercially viable agricultural residues.
Identify residue-producing regions, seasonal availability, aggregation points, competing buyers and potential sales destinations.
Evaluate biomass quality, moisture, contamination, bulk density, storage requirements, transportation economics and suitability for different end users.
Build relationships with biomass consumers, industrial boilers, biomass fuel users, processors and other relevant buyers.
Develop profitable collection, baling, handling, storage, transportation and distribution models.
Establish residue-specific pricing, quality specifications and commercial viability assessments.

4. Commodity Quality & Post-Harvest Management

Establish commodity-wise quality standards, sampling procedures, inspection protocols and acceptance/rejection criteria.
Develop practical knowledge of moisture content, foreign matter, broken/damaged grains, infestation, mold, discoloration, odor and other quality parameters.
Understand the quality requirements of wheat, maize, paddy, sesame and other commodities, including grading and relevant food/feed safety requirements.
Develop storage and preservation SOPs for grains, paddy, straw, corn cobs, rice husk and sesame straw, addressing moisture, aeration, drying, ventilation, temperature, pests, contamination and fire risks.
Monitor stock condition through regular warehouse inspections, moisture checks, temperature monitoring where appropriate, stock rotation and inventory reconciliation.
Reduce storage losses, deterioration, shrinkage, infestation and quality claims.

5. Warehousing, Fumigation & Inventory Control

Supervise warehouse selection, capacity planning, stacking, bagging/bulk handling, stock segregation, housekeeping and storage conditions.
Establish warehouse SOPs for receiving, sampling, weighing, stacking, dispatch, stock counts, traceability and documentation.
Understand fumigation requirements, pest-risk assessment, treatment planning, exposure periods, monitoring, clearance and post-treatment inspection.
Ensure fumigation is carried out only by qualified/authorized service providers, using approved products and applicable safety procedures.
Ensure warehouse sealing, opening, aeration and re-entry are determined by the approved treatment protocol, gas monitoring and verified safe clearance—not by a fixed routine or smell.
Maintain complete fumigation records, treatment certificates, stock inspection reports and warehouse safety documentation.

6. Contract Farming & Farmer Engagement

Develop and manage contract farming and direct farmer sourcing models for selected crops and production areas.
Identify suitable farmer clusters, growers, producer groups and service partners.
Develop crop-wise farmer agreements covering acreage/quantity, varieties, input arrangements where applicable, quality specifications, pricing/formula, delivery schedules, weighing, payment terms and dispute resolution.
Monitor crop progress, expected yields, harvesting timelines, production risks and committed supply.
Establish transparent farmer engagement practices and reduce side-selling, default and delivery risks through commercially viable agreements.

7. Supply Chain & Distribution

Plan the movement of commodities from farms, mandis and aggregation centers to warehouses, mills, processors and end customers.
Optimize transport routes, vehicle utilization, freight costs, loading/unloading, turnaround time and delivery schedules.
Coordinate procurement, warehousing, logistics, finance, quality and sales teams to maintain smooth operations.
Develop supplier-to-customer supply chain visibility, stock availability reporting and traceability.
Plan inventory levels based on demand forecasts, seasonal buying opportunities, storage capacity and working capital requirements.

8. Electronic Warehouse Receipts (EWR) & Commodity Financing

Understand Pakistan's applicable Electronic Warehouse Receipt (EWR) framework and its operational requirements.
Coordinate with eligible/licensed warehouses, collateral managers, banks and relevant stakeholders for warehouse eligibility, commodity grading, stock verification and receipt issuance.
Understand EWR-backed financing, collateral valuation, margin requirements, insurance, stock monitoring, release procedures and reconciliation.
Identify opportunities to improve commodity financing, inventory liquidity and working capital efficiency.
Ensure proper controls over pledged, financed and unencumbered inventory.

Key Deliverables / KPIs

Procurement volumes and achievement against approved plans.
Gross margin and contribution per MT / commodity.
Procurement cost competitiveness and landed cost accuracy.
Supplier network development and contracted supply coverage.
Commodity quality acceptance rate and customer claims.
Storage losses and inventory discrepancies.
Biomass sourcing volumes, sales realization and profitability.
Inventory turnover, stock aging and working capital utilization.
On-time procurement, delivery and fulfillment.
Contract farming performance and committed supply realization.
Warehouse compliance, safety and documentation.
EWR readiness, eligible inventory coverage and reconciliation accuracy.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business, Supply Chain, or a relevant discipline.
5–8 years of relevant experience in agricultural commodity sourcing, procurement, trading, warehousing, agri supply chain or biomass business; preferably with demonstrated managerial responsibility.
Practical exposure to Pakistan's agricultural markets, crop-producing regions, crop calendars and seasonal procurement cycles.
Proven experience in commodity quality assessment, post-harvest management, warehouse operations and inventory control.
Working knowledge of contract farming, farmer engagement, biomass procurement and commodity commercialization.
Familiarity with EWR systems, collateral management and commodity financing will be a strong advantage.

Required Competencies

Strong commercial judgment and negotiation skills.
Practical knowledge of agricultural commodities and their preservation.
Strong analytical, planning and cost-management abilities.
Market intelligence, supplier relationship management and team leadership.
Willingness to travel extensively to sourcing areas and warehouses.
High integrity, transparency and ownership.

We Offer

Company car with fuel.
Handsome salary.
Customized lunch/ food allowance.
Group Health Facility (IPD) for self and family.
Gratuity.
Paid leaves
Opportunity to grow.

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