Cotton Eco-System Development Manager

Job Description

Job summary
The Cotton Eco-System Development Manager leads the design, coordination, and implementation of the
company’s cotton ecosystem development initiatives, enhancing productivity, traceability, and sustainability
across the cotton value chain from farm to fabric. The role focuses on strengthening partnerships with farmers,
ginners, research institutions, development partners, and government agencies to build a resilient and inclusive
cotton supply base that supports industrial-scale textile and garment production. The position serves as the focal
point for value chain transformation, sustainable sourcing, and policy alignment within the national cotton–
textile–apparel agenda.
Key roles and responsibilities
• Cotton Value Chain Development & Program Management
– Design and implement the Company’s cotton ecosystem strategy in alignment with corporate and
national industrialisation objectives.
– Coordinate end-to-end value chain development, including seed multiplication, cotton farming, ginning,
lint processing, and supply to textile manufacturing units.
– Develop annual work plans, budgets, and performance indicators for cotton value chain programs.
– Identify bottlenecks in the value chain (inputs, aggregation, logistics, quality) and coordinate targeted
interventions.
– Support the establishment of regional cotton clusters and farmer service centres to promote organised
and scalable supply models.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
– Build and manage strategic partnerships with government ministries (Agriculture, Industrialization,
Trade, and Treasury), regulatory bodies, farmer cooperatives, ginneries, and development partners.
– Facilitate public–private dialogue to align interventions with national cotton revival programs, subsidy
schemes, and county-level agricultural initiatives.
– Collaborate with donor agencies, research institutions (KALRO, KARLO, KEBS), and NGOs to integrate
sustainable cotton initiatives into local ecosystems.
– Represent the organization in sectoral platforms, industry associations, and regional cotton forums (e.g.,
AGOA, AfCFTA, Cotton Made in Africa, BCI).
• Sustainable Production & Traceability
– Promote sustainable farming practices emphasizing soil fertility, water use efficiency, integrated pest
management, and regenerative agriculture.
– Support certification and traceability systems (e.g., Better Cotton Initiative – BCI, Organic Cotton,
Fairtrade) to enhance compliance and market access.
– Collaborate with production and sustainability teams to develop cotton traceability frameworks
integrated with ERP and digital sourcing systems.
– Monitor social and environmental impacts, ensuring alignment with ESG and sustainability reporting
frameworks.
• Farmer Capacity Building & Extension Support
– Coordinate farmer training programs on good agricultural practices (GAP), post-harvest handling, and
lint quality improvement.
– Facilitate linkages between farmers and financial institutions for access to inputs, credit, and insurance.
– Establish demonstration farms, field schools, and model cooperatives to showcase sustainable
production practices.
– Support development of farmer leadership structures and governance mechanisms within cooperatives.
• Market Development & Value Addition
– Identify and promote market linkages between ginners, spinners, and apparel manufacturers within and
beyond Kenya.
– Facilitate buyer–supplier matching initiatives to strengthen domestic cotton procurement and export
competitiveness.
– Support business case development for cotton-based industrial investments (lint, seed oil, cottonseed
cake, etc.).
– Contribute to policy proposals on pricing, subsidies, and trade incentives to support competitiveness and
farmer income stability.
• Monitoring, Reporting & Knowledge Management
– Establish data systems to monitor cotton production, yields, ginning volumes, and value chain
performance indicators.
– Maintain a database of value chain actors, partnership agreements, and program interventions.
– Prepare periodic technical and progress reports for the Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer and CEO.
– Document lessons learned, success stories, and policy recommendations to inform continuous
improvement.
– Support communication and visibility activities highlighting ecosystem achievements and impact.
• Team Leadership & Coordination
– Supervise technical officers, field coordinators, and consultants engaged in cotton development projects.
– Build internal capacity for value chain management, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability
reporting.
– Foster collaboration with departments including Procurement, Production, Quality Assurance, and
Corporate Affairs.
– Promote teamwork, accountability, and continuous learning within the cotton development team.
• Compliance with Vistari’s Corporate Systems
– Apply the highest standards of internal controls and risk management practices and behaviours and
embed a positive risk and control culture.
– Demonstrate prudence, sound judgement, and appropriate and timely escalations in management of all
types of risk (including fraud risk) applicable to the role.
– Promote and adhere to Vistari’s core values and ensure compliance with organisational policies and
procedures.
– Maintain zero tolerance to bribery, fraud, and corruption, and ensure the immediate reporting of any
corruption or suspect behaviour that threatens Vistari’s reputation.
– Adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures and immediately report any safeguarding concerns.
– Any other related responsibilities that may be assigned by the Line Manager from time to time