Agribusiness Officer

Job description

ABOUT IMPULS AFRICA

Impuls Africa is a Zambian-registered company that specializes in delivering agricultural consultancy and extension services in the SADC region. Owned by a cooperative of over 100 farmers and a seasoned agri-entrepreneur in Zambia, the Impuls team brings more than 75 years of combined expertise in agriculture and livestock services. Impuls has a strong track record of successfully developing and implementing large-scale projects in agriculture, livestock, agroforestry, apiculture, and horticulture value chains. These projects have been funded by leading development partners such as UKAID, USAID, UNDP, the EU, SIDA, Irish Aid, and the Czech Development Agency. We specialize in providing services to both donors and the private sector, offering everything from one-off consulting assignments to long-term project implementation and management. Our primary focus is on agricultural consulting, in which we excel at delivering a diverse range of short- and long-term assignments.

Position Title: Agribusiness Officer

Reports to: Managing Director

Job Summary

The Agribusiness Officer will provide technical and business support to smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and agri-based enterprises to improve their productivity, profitability, and integration into competitive value chains. The officer will focus on enterprise development, access to markets and finance, value addition, and private sector engagement across multiple agricultural commodities.

Key Responsibilities

Agribusiness Support & Advisory

Identify and provide technical assistance to smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and SMEs with high growth potential.
Provide tailored business development services including business planning, cost analysis, recordkeeping, and marketing strategies.
Promote elevating from subsistence farming to commercially viable, market-driven agribusiness.

Market Access and Value Chain Integration

Facilitate linkages between producers and markets (aggregators, processors, retailers, exporters).
Identify opportunities for value addition and support the development of market-aligned products.
Promote inclusive participation in structured markets (e.g. contract farming, commodity exchanges, aggregation centers).

Financial Inclusion and Access to Capital

Link farmers and rural enterprises to appropriate financing solutions, including loans, grants, input credit schemes, and microinsurance.
Support financial literacy training and loan application processes.
Track credit utilization and support development of a positive loan repayment culture.

Value Chain Development

Map and strengthen agricultural value chains such as horticulture, livestock, grains, and aquaculture.
Facilitate input-output linkages, logistics improvement, and business partnerships across the chain.
Promote the use of climate-smart, gender-responsive, and inclusive business models.

Training and Capacity Building

Conduct business skills training covering topics such as entrepreneurship, product development, branding, sales, and negotiation.
Strengthen farmer groups and cooperatives in governance, group marketing, and joint investment planning.
Build the capacity of youth and women to enter and grow in agribusiness.

Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting

Maintain detailed records of beneficiaries, enterprises supported, and business performance.
Prepare and submit regular progress reports, success stories, and data for learning and evaluation.
Contribute to periodic reviews and adaptations of agribusiness strategies.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
At least 3 years’ experience supporting rural agribusiness or enterprise development projects.
Strong understanding of agricultural markets, value chains, and private sector development.
Proven experience in working with smallholder farmers, SMEs, and cooperatives.
Familiarity with financial services, input supply systems, and market facilitation approaches.
Excellent facilitation, coaching, and report writing skills.
Fluency in English and at least one local language relevant to the project area.

Key Competencies

Strong agribusiness and entrepreneurial mindset
Market systems thinking and value chain development
Stakeholder engagement and partnership building
Financial literacy and business planning skills
Field adaptability and solution-oriented approach
Effective communication and analytical abilities

Application Process:

All interested and qualified candidates should apply by completing the online application form at the link below. Please ensure you submit your CV and  include at least three traceable references and select the appropriate job title in the application form here.

Note: CVs will be reviewed on an ongoing basis depending on project and organizational needs.