Cooperative Enterprise Development Lead

About the role

SOFDI is launching a farmer‑owned collective marketing enterprise to improve market access and increase farm‑gate value for smallholder farmers in Kenya. The Cooperative Enterprise Development Lead will design the business model, organisational structure and sustainability pathway for this new entity.

Key responsibilities

• Assess farmer supply, market demand, product categories and pricing dynamics to inform the enterprise model.
• Develop a sustainable business model covering ownership, revenue streams, incentive systems and value‑sharing frameworks.
• Evaluate legal and institutional structures (cooperative, SACCO, company limited by guarantee, SHG/CBO) and recommend the most appropriate option.
• Prepare a detailed start‑up plan, budget and phased work‑plans for formation, resourcing, piloting and scale‑up.
• Define the internal governance, leadership and operational roles, and identify staffing needs within and beyond the farmer network.
• Support the creation of operational systems for aggregation, transport, sales, bookkeeping and coordination.

Required profile

• Mid‑level professional with at least 5 years of experience in business development, cooperative management or agribusiness.
• Proven ability to design business models and organisational structures for collective enterprises.
• Strong analytical skills to assess market and supply chain data.
• Experience working with NGOs, farmer groups or similar stakeholder environments.

Required skills

• Business model design
• Strategic planning
• Financial budgeting
• Stakeholder analysis

What we offer

• Competitive monthly salary between KES 30,000 and KES 45,000.
• Opportunity to shape a high‑impact agricultural cooperative.