Key Responsibilities
Export Planning & Forecasting
- Work closely with the Farm Manager to obtain projected flower production and export volumes.
- Develop export forecasts based on farm production, buyer requirements, orders, and market demand.
- Understand buyer requirements and translate them into practical production and export plans.
- Monitor available flower volumes, quality, specifications, and readiness for export.
- Maintain regular communication with international buyers following communication and direction from the COO.
- Coordinate closely with the farm to ensure production plans are aligned with confirmed and anticipated orders.
Logistics & Export Operations
- Manage end-to-end logistics of flowers from the farm to the airport and onward to international destinations.
- Coordinate clearing, forwarding, transportation, cold-chain logistics, and airport cargo handling.
- Work closely with airlines, cargo handlers, clearing agents, transporters, and other logistics partners to ensure timely dispatch.
- Monitor airline schedules, cargo capacity, flight changes, and potential disruptions that may affect exports.
- Ensure flowers are handled and transported within the required timelines and conditions.
- Identify and resolve logistical challenges that may affect export schedules or product quality.
Airport Cargo & Export Documentation
- Coordinate flower deliveries and cargo operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
- Manage and verify export documentation, including Airway Bills (AWBs) and related shipping documentation.
- Ensure export documentation is accurate, complete, and available within required timelines.
- Liaise with clearing and forwarding agents and relevant airport stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with applicable export, customs, cargo handling, and aviation requirements.
- Maintain proper records of shipments, documentation, and export transactions.
Farm & Operational Coordination
- Maintain close visibility of activities at the farm and ensure operational issues affecting exports are identified early.
- Coordinate with the Farm Manager on production, harvesting, packing, dispatch readiness, and projected export volumes.
- Monitor the availability of flowers against buyer orders and export forecasts.
- Coordinate operational purchases and requirements with the relevant teams.
- Ensure timely communication between the farm, Nairobi office, logistics partners, and management.
- Conduct regular farm visits to monitor operations and resolve emerging issues.
Stakeholder & Buyer Coordination
- Maintain professional relationships with international buyers, logistics partners, clearing agents, airlines, and other operational stakeholders.
- Follow up on buyer requirements and ensure they are communicated accurately to the relevant teams.
- Coordinate with Finance and Accounts on payments, logistics costs, purchases, and other operational requirements.
- Work closely with the COO and Managing Director on operational priorities and export planning.
- Provide management with regular updates on production, export volumes, shipments, logistics challenges, and operational performance.
Office & Administrative Operations
- Oversee the smooth day-to-day running of the Nairobi office from an operational perspective.
- Maintain accurate operational records, shipment files, buyer information, forecasts, and logistics documentation.
- Coordinate internal communication between the Nairobi office and farm.
- Support basic employee coordination and ensure operational teams have the resources required to perform effectively.
- Assist management with operational reporting and other duties as assigned.
Requirements & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Agribusiness, or a related field.
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in floriculture, flower exports, logistics, supply chain, or agricultural export operations.
- Proven experience coordinating flower exports and airport cargo operations.
- Good understanding of cold-chain logistics and perishable goods handling.
- Experience working with international buyers, airlines, clearing agents, freight forwarders, and logistics providers.
- Strong knowledge of export documentation, including Airway Bills and customs/clearing documentation.
- Good understanding of the Kenyan flower export ecosystem and relevant regulatory requirements.
- Strong forecasting, planning, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- Ability to work under tight timelines and manage time-sensitive export operations.
- Willingness to travel regularly between the Nairobi office, farm, airport, and other operational locations.
Core Competencies
- Strong operations and logistics management
- Export planning and forecasting
- Floriculture and perishable goods knowledge
- Buyer and stakeholder relationship management
- Strong attention to detail and documentation
- Problem-solving and decision-making
- Excellent communication and coordination
- Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
- Proactive and hands-on approach to operations
- High level of integrity, accountability, and professionalism