COMPANY DESCRIPTION

The Soufflet Group is a French family-owned business which is collecting and adding value to agricultural raw materials through industrial milling and malting among other activities. France’s top private cereal collector, the Group is also a major player in supplying inputs to farmers cultivating various field crops.

In malting, it is a front-rank world player on the malt market with 28 malt plants in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, located at the heart of the barley producing regions.

Varietal selection, seed multiplication, choosing the best quality barley for its malt plants and the precision of its manufacturing process all enable it to produce the finest malt for its brewer customers.

For more information: website

Soufflet has started its operation in Ethiopia in 2017 is now building a malt factory and is actively working on local malt barley sourcing. To support its development, Soufflet is looking to hire Senior Agronomist. 

CORE MISSION 

The Senior Agronomist is assisting the Head of Agronomy and Procurement Department who is in-charge of introducing and developing malting barley in Ethiopia and to promote good practices in barley cultivation.

In this view he supports the implementation of variety and agronomy trials, closely follow up the registration of new varieties and is responsible for planning and follow up of seed multiplication. He is as well providing guidance & technical assistance to all the stakeholders of the supply chain namely seed multiplicators, field staff of Soufflet, farmers and farmer leaders, cooperatives and union of cooperatives.

Major Responsibilities 

•  Establish relationships with international and local breeders
• Implement trial project in the areas of production, participate in the development of strategic plan to get in each region technical and economic references for adequate commercial development
• Define local good practices of the culture of malting barley. Design a package of good practices best suited for the customers in different regions. Manage relation with the upstream industry players to define and negotiate the selected inputs (fertilizers and pesticides).
• Establish the seed multiplication program to provide the volumes of commercial seed required for the Strategic Plan (basic seed procurement, seed producers and cleaning units).
• Plan and execute logistic organization of seeds procurement, cleaning and certification
• Support any related logistic activity related to seed procurement and sales for multiplication
• Plan and execute grain cleaning and quality supervision
• Monitor crop conditions in the region, regularly inform the sales teams, prepare and write technical flashes or information materials to customers or personnel in the region in coordination with Head of Agronomy and Procurement Department.
• Design technical training to customers and sales teams in the field of technical production of malting barley.
• Participate in the general animation of the region with the Procurement manager.
• Maintaining the necessary contacts with all the supply-chain stakeholders both public and private
• Implement process and procedures for quality management (including the rise of defects and customer complaints).

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATION 

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Agronomy, Crop sciences and/or related field

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS REQUIRED 

• 5 years’ experience in similar position and knowledge of malt barley production
• Experience in seed production technology is a must
• Familiar with agronomy/variety trials (agronomy observation and analytical skills) 
• Ready to travel across malt barley production areas and spend most of its time in the fields
• Able to plan its activities and report his work in a structured and concise manner.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with various types of stakeholders
• Good computer skills
• Fluency in English (oral and written) and Afan Oromo is a strict requirement 

How to Apply

• Applicants who will meet the requirements are encouraged to apply on the following email address with 7 working days:
• Email: ttadesse@soufflet.com 
• Application Deadline: April 9, 2021
•  Note: Please indicate the position you are applying in your email subject.