VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT – PRODUCT SOURCING, PRODUCTION COORDINATION & PLANNING MANAGER

Company: Sacon Trading PLC
Position: Product Sourcing, Production Coordination & Planning Manager
Experience: 3–5 Years
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Position

Sacon Trading PLC is looking for an experienced and highly organized Product Sourcing, Production Coordination & Planning Manager to manage the company’s product sourcing activities and coordinate production planning to ensure consistent product quality, quantity, availability, and timely supply for both local and export markets.

The position will work closely with farmers, suppliers, production teams, packing house, quality, sales, logistics, and international trade teams to ensure that the right products are available at the right quantity, quality, time, and cost.

Key Responsibilities

Product Sourcing

• Develop and maintain a reliable network of farmers, commercial farms, and suppliers.
• Identify and evaluate new product sources and suppliers.
• Negotiate product prices, supply conditions, volumes, and delivery schedules.
• Develop farmer and supplier relationships to ensure consistent supply.
• Monitor supplier performance regarding quality, quantity, price, and delivery.
• Plan sourcing according to customer orders, market demand, and export requirements.

Production Planning & Coordination

• Prepare weekly, monthly, and seasonal production plans based on market demand and confirmed orders.
• Coordinate farmer contract production activities from land preparation through harvesting.
• Develop planting, harvesting, and crop rotation schedules.
• Coordinate production quantities with export and domestic sales requirements.
• Monitor crop progress and expected harvest dates.
• Identify potential production shortages or surpluses in advance and develop alternative supply plans.
• Coordinate the availability of seeds, fertilizers, crop protection materials, irrigation requirements, labor, packaging materials, and other production inputs.
• Work with farmers and field teams to ensure production follows the agreed plan
• Maintain accurate product availability forecasts.
• Ensure sufficient supply for confirmed customer orders.
• Coordinate between sourcing, production, packing house, sales, and logistics teams.
• Monitor product availability and communicate potential shortages immediately.
• Develop alternative sourcing options when planned production or supplier supply is insufficient.
• Coordinate with the Quality and Packing House teams to ensure products meet required specifications.
• Monitor sourcing and production costs.
• Monitor product rejection, loss, and wastage rates.
• Support management in determining the most efficient sourcing and production options.
• Prepare weekly and monthly sourcing and production reports.
• Maintain production forecasts and supplier databases.
• Track planned versus actual production and supply.
• Report challenges, shortages, delays, and supply risks to management.
• Provide management with accurate information for purchasing, sales, export, and financial planning.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in agricultural sourcing, production planning, supply chain, fresh produce, or agribusiness.
• Practical experience working with farmers and agricultural suppliers.
• Good understanding of fresh fruits and vegetables and their production cycles.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, forecasting, and supplier management.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Good analytical and planning abilities.
• Ability to coordinate multiple suppliers and production activities simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and make timely operational decisions.
• Experience in fresh produce export or contract farming is an advantage.