Commercial Tea Buyer

About the role

The Commercial Tea Buyer is responsible for sourcing, tasting, blending, and purchasing tea to meet market demand while ensuring profitability. This full‑time position is based in Nairobi and works closely with sales and export teams.

Key responsibilities

• Source and purchase teas competitively through the Mombasa tea auction and private negotiations.
• Evaluate tea quality through professional testing, grading, and assessment.
• Identify buying opportunities based on market trends, quality, pricing, and customer requirements.
• Develop cost‑effective blends while maintaining consistent quality.
• Monitor auction trends, supply‑demand dynamics, and international tea prices.
• Negotiate with producers, brokers, and suppliers to secure favorable terms.
• Manage buying decisions focusing on margins, inventory, and profitability.
• Collaborate with sales and export teams to meet international customer requirements.

Required profile

• Proven experience in tea buying, testing, and blending, preferably with Kenyan and East African teas.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Excellent knowledge of CTC tea grades, quality characteristics, and auction dynamics.
• Ability to balance quality, cost, and profitability.
• Analytical, decisive, and results‑oriented mindset.
• Established relationships within the tea trade are an advantage.