Market Access Officer Jobs – Bulimi

Job Title: Market Access Officer

Organisation: Bulimi

Duty Station: Kyenjojo, Uganda

About Organisation:

Bulimi is a farmer-centered social enterprise supporting smallholder farmers in Uganda to establish productive and sustainable cocoa farms through best agriculture regenerative practices. Our integrated soil-to-shade model provides farmer registration and training, quality cocoa seedlings, extension services, organic agricultural inputs, agroforestry support, cocoa aggregation and access to reliable markets.

Job Summary: The Market Access Officer will coordinate the purchasing, collection, transportation, receipt, fermentation, storage and quality control of wet and dry cocoa beans purchased from farmers.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervises: Store Assistants, Fermentation Workers and other assigned operational staff
• Works closely with: Extension Workers, Agronomist, Finance and Admin Team, farmers and transport service providers

Cocoa Purchasing and Farmer Coordination

• Coordinate the purchase of wet and properly dried cocoa beans from registered farmers and farmer groups.
• Develop cocoa purchasing schedules in collaboration with Field Officers, farmers and community-level farmer groups.
• Verify the source, quantity and quality of cocoa presented for sale before purchase.
• Ensure that cocoa is weighed accurately using verified and properly calibrated weighing equipment.
• Ensure that all cocoa purchases are properly documented and supported by approved purchase records.
• Maintain updated records of farmers, quantities purchased, prices paid, dates of purchase and collection locations.
• Ensure that farmers receive clear information regarding Bulimi’s purchasing procedures, quality requirements and payment arrangements.
• Promote transparent, respectful and professional relationships between Bulimi and participating farmers.
• Coordinate with the Finance and Administration team to facilitate accurate and timely payments to farmers.

Market Research and Cocoa Pricing

• Regularly research and monitor local, national and relevant international cocoa market prices.
• Collect market intelligence from farmers, buyers, exporters, processors and other reliable market sources.
• Analyse prevailing farm-gate prices, transportation costs, quality premiums and market trends.
• Recommend fair and competitive purchasing prices for wet and dry cocoa beans.
• Communicate approved purchasing prices clearly and consistently to farmers, Field Officers and purchasing teams.
• Advise management on cocoa price movements, supply trends and potential purchasing risks.
• Ensure that Bulimi remains competitive while maintaining sustainable operating margins and fair value for farmers.
• Maintain accurate records of historical prices and prepare regular market-price reports for management decision-making.

Cocoa Collection and Transportation

• Plan and coordinate the collection of cocoa from individual farms, farmer groups and designated community collection points.
• Work closely with Field Officers to identify cocoa that is ready for collection and estimate expected volumes.
• Develop practical collection routes and transportation schedules to ensure timely movement of cocoa.
• Coordinate vehicles, motorcycles, collection containers and other logistical requirements.
• Ensure that wet cocoa beans are transported promptly to the fermentation facility to prevent deterioration and loss of quality.
• Ensure that dry cocoa beans are transported under appropriate conditions that protect them from moisture, contamination, damage and loss.
• Verify quantities at the point of collection and again upon arrival at Bulimi stores.
• Monitor transportation costs, delivery timelines and losses occurring during collection and transportation.
• Investigate and report any discrepancies between quantities collected from farmers and quantities received at the stores.
• Ensure the safe and hygienic handling of cocoa during loading, transportation and offloading.

Fermentation and Post-Harvest Management

• Supervise the receipt, sorting and preparation of wet cocoa beans for fermentation.
• Ensure that wet beans from different sources are appropriately identified, recorded and handled.
• Oversee the proper loading and management of fermentation boxes or other approved fermentation systems.
• Monitor fermentation periods, temperatures, turning schedules and other critical quality parameters.
• Ensure that fermentation equipment and facilities are clean, safe and properly maintained.
• Maintain complete batch records for all cocoa undergoing fermentation.
• Coordinate the transfer of fermented cocoa beans to the drying area within the required timeframe.
• Supervise appropriate drying methods to achieve the required moisture level and product quality.
• Ensure that cocoa beans are protected from rain, smoke, foreign matter, animals and other possible sources of contamination.
• Identify and separate under-fermented, over-fermented, mouldy, smoky, germinated, damaged or otherwise defective beans.
• Continuously improve fermentation and drying procedures based on quality results, research findings and market feedback.

Cocoa Quality Assurance and Control

• Inspect wet and dry cocoa beans at the farm, collection point, reception area, fermentation facility, drying area and store.
• Establish and enforce clear cocoa quality standards and inspection procedures.
• Assess cocoa for fermentation levels, moisture content, bean size, mould, foreign matter, smoke contamination, insect damage and other defects.
• Conduct or coordinate appropriate quality tests, including cut tests and moisture-content checks.
• Ensure that purchasing decisions and prices reflect the quality of cocoa supplied, in line with approved procedures.
• Reject or appropriately classify cocoa that does not meet the required standards.
• Ensure that quality-approved cocoa is properly graded, bagged, labelled and stored.
• Maintain batch identification and traceability from the farmer or collection point through fermentation, drying, storage and sale.
• Investigate quality-related complaints and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
• Prepare quality-control reports and advise management on issues affecting cocoa quality.
• Work with the Agronomist and Field Officers to address recurring farm-level and post-harvest quality problems.

Farmer Training and Technical Support

• Provide farmers with practical technical support on cocoa harvesting and post-harvest management.
• Train farmers on the identification and harvesting of mature cocoa pods.
• Guide farmers on appropriate pod opening methods and the hygienic handling of wet cocoa beans.
• Train farmers on fermentation, drying, moisture management, sorting, packaging and storage.
• Educate farmers on practices that can cause quality deterioration, including poor fermentation, smoke contamination, over-drying, mold formation and mixing cocoa with foreign materials.
• Conduct practical demonstrations at farms, farmer-group meetings and cocoa collection points.
• Develop simple post-harvest guidance materials in collaboration with the Agronomist and Field Officers.
• Provide feedback to farmers regarding the quality of cocoa supplied and actions required for improvement.
• Promote quality-based production and purchasing systems that reward farmers for supplying better-quality cocoa.
• Document common post-harvest challenges and recommend appropriate training or technical interventions.

Stores and Inventory Management

• Supervise the receipt, weighing, grading, bagging, labelling and storage of cocoa beans.
• Maintain accurate stock records for wet cocoa received, cocoa under fermentation, cocoa under drying and dry cocoa in storage.
• Maintain separate records for cocoa based on source, batch, quality grade and processing stage.
• Ensure that all stock movements are supported by properly authorized documentation.
• Conduct daily, weekly and monthly physical stock counts and reconciliations.
• Investigate and report stock losses, weight differences, damage, contamination and other discrepancies.
• Ensure that cocoa stores are clean, dry, secure, properly ventilated and free from pests.
• Ensure that cocoa bags are properly stacked on pallets and protected from floors, walls, water and contamination.
• Monitor moisture levels and storage conditions to prevent mould development and deterioration.
• Maintain the cleanliness, safety and security of fermentation, drying and storage facilities.
• Ensure accountability for weighing scales, moisture meters, fermentation equipment, tarpaulins, pallets, bags and other operational materials.
• Prepare regular stock, procurement, fermentation, quality and distribution reports.

Team Supervision and Coordination

• Supervise staff involved in cocoa collection, transportation, fermentation, drying, grading and storage.
• Allocate daily responsibilities and ensure that operational targets are achieved.
• Train staff on cocoa handling, hygiene, quality standards, recordkeeping and workplace safety.
• Work closely with Field Officers to coordinate farmer communication, cocoa availability and collection arrangements.
• Collaborate with the Agronomist to ensure that farmers receive consistent technical advice.
• Coordinate with the Finance and Administration team on purchasing documentation, farmer payments and stock reconciliation.
• Coordinate with transport service providers to ensure timely and cost-effective cocoa collection.
• Promote teamwork, integrity, accountability and respect for farmers throughout the cocoa-purchasing process.

Reporting and Compliance

• Prepare daily, weekly and monthly reports on cocoa purchases, prices, quantities, transportation, fermentation, quality and stock balances.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, batch, farmer, payment, quality and inventory records.
• Monitor performance against approved purchasing and aggregation targets.
• Ensure compliance with Bulimi’s procurement, financial, stores, quality and operational procedures.
• Support internal stock reviews, financial reconciliations, audits and quality inspections.
• Report suspected fraud, manipulation of weighing scales, unauthorized purchases, stock losses or other irregularities.
• Ensure that all operations comply with applicable food safety, workplace safety and environmental requirements.
• Perform any other related duties assigned by management.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Agribusiness, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Procurement and Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Food Science and Technology, Post-Harvest Technology, Business Administration or a related field.
• At least three years of relevant experience in cocoa procurement, agricultural commodity buying, produce aggregation, post-harvest management, warehouse operations or quality assurance.
• Practical knowledge of cocoa harvesting, fermentation, drying, grading, storage and quality control is highly desirable.
• Experience working directly with smallholder farmers, farmer groups and field-based agricultural teams.
• Experience coordinating the transportation and aggregation of agricultural commodities from rural communities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of commodity pricing, market research and purchasing procedures.
• Experience using weighing equipment, moisture meters and other basic quality-control tools.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and digital inventory or procurement systems.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to farms and community collection points.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle and possession of a valid riding permit will be an added advantage.

Required Competencies

• Strong knowledge of cocoa post-harvest handling and quality requirements.
• Strong purchasing, negotiation and supplier-relationship management skills.
• Ability to analyse market information and recommend competitive farmer prices.
• Excellent planning, logistics and coordination abilities.
• High level of integrity, transparency and accountability.
• Strong inventory control and recordkeeping skills.
• Ability to identify quality defects and recommend corrective actions.
• Strong farmer-training, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to supervise operational staff and manage multiple activities simultaneously.
• Strong numerical, analytical and report-writing skills.
• Commitment to fair treatment of farmers and responsible sourcing practices.

Performance in this position will be assessed against:

• Volume of wet and dry cocoa purchased against approved targets.
• Percentage of cocoa meeting Bulimi’s quality requirements.
• Timeliness of cocoa collection and transportation from farms to Bulimi stores.
• Accuracy of weighing, purchasing, batch and inventory records.
• Percentage reduction in post-harvest losses and rejected cocoa.
• Consistency and quality of cocoa fermentation and drying.
• Stock variance and product loss levels.
• Competitiveness of prices offered to farmers.
• Number of farmers trained in cocoa post-harvest management.
• Farmer satisfaction with purchasing, weighing, pricing and payment processes.
• Compliance with Bulimi’s traceability, quality-control and stores-management procedures.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and Interested applicants should apply online at the link below.

Opens the employer’s application pageApply Now →

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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Level of Education: bachelor degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36