Purpose of the Role

The Supply Chain & Operations Director is the primary orchestrator of the physical and digital movement of commodities within Bulk Food Company. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), this role is responsible for ensuring that the end-to-end supply chain — from farm-gate aggregation to institutional offtake — is seamless, cost-effective, and fully traceable.

This is a high-impact leadership role requiring a professional who can perform effectively under sustained pressure in an environment where structures are evolving and execution speed is critical. The Supply Chain & Operations Director must bridge the gap between rural production clusters and sophisticated urban/international markets.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Supply Chain Leadership

· Develop and implement supply chain strategies that align with Company’s objectives of food security, export competitiveness, and profitability.

· Forecast demand and align sourcing plans with both domestic consumption needs and global market requirements, ensuring resilience against market volatility.

· Design and optimize supply chain networks including aggregation hubs, warehouses, and cold chain facilities to support scalable, traceable, and efficient trade orchestration.

Farmer & Ecosystem Development

· Build and manage relationships with farmers, cooperatives, and aggregators to ensure reliable supply and strengthen ecosystem partnerships.

· Negotiate contracts, pricing, and supply agreements that balance fair trade practices with commercial sustainability.

· Implement farmer support programs including training, input financing, and extension services to enhance productivity, quality, and consistency of supply.

· Diversify crop portfolios and sourcing geographies to mitigate risks and broaden revenue streams.

Logistics & Operations Management

· Oversee transportation, warehousing, and export logistics, ensuring seamless commodity flow from farm to global buyers.

· Optimize routes, modal mix, and delivery schedules to reduce costs, improve reliability, and enhance service levels.

· Ensure cold chain integrity and quality preservation during transit to meet both domestic and international standards.

· Balance supply with international demand forecasts, synchronizing production with customer requirements.

Inventory, Quality & Compliance

· Monitor inventory levels, reduce wastage, and improve turnover to maximize efficiency and profitability.

· Implement traceability systems for food safety, compliance, and transparency across the supply chain.

· Maintain certifications such as HACCP, ISO 22000, and Global GAP to ensure adherence to global standards.

· Ensure compliance with Nigerian and international food safety, trade, labor, and environmental regulations.

Financial & Risk Management

· Prepare and monitor supply chain budgets and cost forecasts, ensuring disciplined financial management.

· Track cost-to-serve and optimize procurement and logistics expenditure to protect margins and enhance profitability.

· Manage risks related to commodity price volatility, FX exposure, climate variability, and logistics disruptions.

· Deploy risk mitigation tools including hedging, insurance, and contingency frameworks to safeguard operations.

Sustainability & ESG Integration

· Drive sustainability initiatives including waste reduction, eco-friendly logistics, and fair trade practices.

· Embed responsible sourcing and smallholder inclusion into supply chain operations to strengthen social impact.

· Champion carbon reduction, water efficiency, and packaging optimization to align with ESG commitments and global sustainability standards.

Leadership & Organizational Development

· Lead procurement, logistics, and warehouse teams, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.

· Build a culture of accountability, efficiency, and innovation, embedding high-performance norms across the organization.

· Mentor and develop future supply chain leaders, creating succession pipelines and strengthening organizational capacity.

· Champion digital transformation by leveraging ERP/SCM platforms, analytics, and automation to enhance transparency and decision speed.

Qualifications & Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc./HND) in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Engineering, or Business Administration.

An MBA or Master’s in Logistics, Operations, or Agribusiness is highly preferred.

Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), MCIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply), or equivalent international certification is mandatory.

Experience Required

· Minimum of 12-15 years of progressive experience in supply chain management, agribusiness, or logistics.

· Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Agriculture, Agribusiness, or related field.

· Master’s degree in Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, or Operations Management (preferred).

· Professional certifications (valuable):

o Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)

o Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

o Food Safety & Quality Standards (HACCP, ISO 22000)

o Project Management Professional (PMP)

· Ability to design and execute supply chain strategies at scale.

· Deep knowledge of agricultural sourcing, logistics, warehousing, and export operations.

· Strong budgeting, forecasting, and cost control skills.

· Ability to anticipate and mitigate supply chain risks.

· Familiarity with Nigerian and international food safety and trade regulations.

· ERP systems, supply chain management software, and data analytics tools.

· Strong team management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

· Excellent negotiation, presentation, and stakeholder engagement abilities