# Fairtrade & Farmer Development Manager Job Mavuno Organics Ruiru, Kenya Canonical URL: https://primejobalerts.com/jobs/fairtrade-farmer-development-manager-job-mavuno-organics-ruiru-kenya Company: Mavuno Organics Ruiru, Kenya Category: Agriculture & Farming Location: Kenya Work type: Full-time Work arrangement: On-site Published: 2026-08-17 Expires: 2026-08-28 ## Job Description The Role - The Fairtrade & Farmer Development Manager will be responsible for establishing, strengthening and scaling Fairtrade-certified avocado producer organisations and developing a reliable supply base capable of supporting Mavuno’s growing Fairtrade and organic export programmes. - This is both a farmer development and supply-growth role. - The successful candidate will work directly with cooperatives, CBOs, self-help groups, individual growers and other stakeholders to strengthen producer organisations, recruit new farmers, improve avocado production and productivity, maintain certification compliance and secure increasing volumes of export-quality Fairtrade avocados. - The position requires someone who can move beyond managing existing farmer groups and actively build new sources of certified supply. ### Key Responsibilities Fairtrade Farmer Network Development - Identify and recruit avocado farmers into Mavuno’s Fairtrade supply programme. - Identify suitable existing cooperatives, CBOs and self-help groups for partnership and development. - Support the establishment and development of new legally recognized farmer organisations where required. - Develop and execute annual farmer recruitment and Fairtrade supply-expansion plans. - Build relationships with large-scale and commercial avocado growers capable of supplying Fairtrade and organic programmes. Producer Organisation Development - Strengthen the governance and institutional capacity of participating farmer organisations. - Support producer organisations in developing appropriate management, administration and record-keeping systems. - Build the capacity of elected leaders and management committees in governance, accountability and Fairtrade requirements. - Support organisations in developing and implementing Fairtrade development plans and appropriate Premium management systems. Fairtrade & Organic Compliance - Coordinate implementation and maintenance of applicable Fairtrade requirements across participating producer organisations. - Support farmer groups in preparing for Fairtrade certification and surveillance audits. - Work closely with internal technical teams to maintain organic and other applicable certification requirements. - Ensure accurate farmer registers, farm records, traceability documentation and certification records. - Identify compliance gaps and coordinate timely corrective actions. Production & Supply Development - Develop annual production and supply forecasts for participating farmer groups. - Work with field teams and farmers to improve avocado orchard management, productivity, fruit quality and export pack-out. - Monitor flowering, fruit development, crop estimates and harvesting readiness. - Develop strategies to increase certified Fairtrade avocado volumes year on year. - Coordinate supply planning with Mavuno’s commercial, procurement, technical and packhouse teams. Farmer Capacity Building - Develop and coordinate farmer training programmes covering good agricultural practices, organic production, Fairtrade requirements, quality, traceability and responsible farming. - Strengthen farmers’ understanding of international market requirements. - Promote professional and commercially sustainable farmer organisations capable of building long-term relationships with international markets. Stakeholder Management - Maintain effective relationships with producer organisations, certification bodies, government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders. - Coordinate Fairtrade-related communication and documentation between Mavuno and participating producer organisations. - Represent Mavuno in relevant farmer development, certification and Fairtrade engagements. Reporting & Performance Management - Maintain accurate data on farmer numbers, acreage, certification status, production forecasts and supplied volumes. - Prepare monthly reports on farmer recruitment, certification progress, production, compliance and supply performance. - Establish measurable annual targets for expansion of Mavuno’;s Fairtrade supply base. - Track performance against agreed KPIs and recommend corrective actions where targets are not being achieved. Qualifications & Experience ### The ideal candidate should have - A Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development or a related field. - At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in farmer development, horticultural value chains, certification, contract farming, cooperatives or agricultural supply-chain management. - Demonstrable experience working directly with smallholder farmers and farmer organisations. - Experience with Fairtrade certification and standards will be a strong advantage. - Knowledge of organic certification, GlobalG.A.P. or similar agricultural certification systems will be advantageous. - Experience in avocado or export horticulture will be highly desirable. - Strong understanding of farmer mobilisation, training, production planning and agricultural supply development. - Ability to interpret standards and translate compliance requirements into practical field-level systems. - Strong reporting, data-management and stakeholder-management capabilities. - Willingness and ability to travel extensively to avocado-producing regions Personal Attributes ### We are particularly interested in candidates who are - Results-driven – able to translate plans into farmer numbers, certified acreage and actual avocado volumes. - Field-oriented – comfortable spending significant time working directly with farmers and producer organisations. - Entrepreneurial – able to identify opportunities and build farmer networks rather than simply administer existing programmes. - Highly organised – capable of managing certification records, farmer data and multiple producer organisations. - Commercially aware – understands that farmer development must ultimately translate into sustainable supply and market access. - Strong communicators – able to work effectively with farmers, community leaders, auditors, management and international stakeholders. - High integrity – committed to transparency, responsible sourcing and the principles underlying Fairtrade. What Success Looks Like ### Success in this position will be measured by tangible growth in - Fairtrade-certified farmer organizations; - participating avocado farmers; - certified acreage; - forecasted and delivered Fairtrade avocado volumes; - farmer productivity and export-quality fruit; - compliance performance; and the institutional strength and sustainability of participating producer organizations. ### How to Apply Interested candidates should submit their CV and cover letter, clearly demonstrating relevant experience in farmer development, certification, producer organizations and/or export horticulture to hr@mavunoorganics.com. Please include “Fairtrade & Farmer Development Manager” in the subject of your application. Application Deadline: 28th August 2026 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. ## Requirements Apply by email: hr@mavunoorganics.com ## Apply Use the canonical Prime Job Alerts page for full application instructions and source verification.