Location: Ndola (with frequent field travel; occasional Lusaka visits)
Reporting to: Technical Reporting: Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO)
Administrative Reporting: Ndola Office Manager
Executive Escalation: Group COO (for critical risks beyond technical/administrative lines)
Contract Type: Short-term consultancy under Technical Assistance (TA) budget, with potential to transition to staff position.
About Us:
Emerging Cooking Solutions (Zambia) Limited, trading as SupaMoto, is a leading player in the Advanced Biomass Cooking sector, dedicated to positive global impacts. As a Zambian/Swedish joint venture, we introduce clean-burning modern cook-stoves that use renewable cooking fuel pellets, our locally produced pellets are an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to charcoal, promoting environmental sustainability and addressing the challenge of deforestation.
We are a young, dynamic start-up company and a leader in the Advanced Biomass Cooking sector, committed to creating positive impacts globally. From humble beginnings, we have cultivated a vibrant spirit and now boast excellent potential for growth. As we flourish, we seek an energetic and committed professional to join our team as a call center representative.
In line with the company’s origins, we seek a committed and dynamic individual who can grow into the team and the role. The right person will be eager and brilliant, with strong interpersonal skills, integrity, and a love for systems and processes.
1. Purpose of the Role
To ensure consistent, reliable, and quality biomass supply to the Ndola pellet factory by identifying, assessing, and securing diverse biomass sources across Zambia, with a primary focus on waste biomass. In addition to advisory and sourcing functions, the role carries supervisory and operational management responsibilities, including oversight of field teams and monitoring their performance.
2. Key Responsibilities
A. Biomass Sourcing & Field Reconnaissance
- Maintain and grow relationships with key plantation companies (e.g., ZAFFICO,CFC) to secure offcuts, sawdust, and other by-products.
- Identify and map potential new biomass sources, including small/large sawmills, agroforestry projects, and industrial by-product generators.
- Include regional sourcing assessments (e.g., Tanzania and other neighboring markets) for diversification potential.
- Conduct on-site visits to assess quality, quantity, and logistics feasibility for each source.
- Monitor exotic wood type availability (pine, eucalyptus, gmelina, etc.) and follow up on pending sample testing.
B. Agroforestry & Farmer Network Engagement
- Manage relationships with agroforestry partners (e.g., One Acre Fund, Camaco) and the small-scale farmer network growing biomass crops (glyricidia, Paulownia).
- Coordinate with lead farmers or designated collection points to centralise biomass near transport routes.
C. Supplier & Stakeholder Coordination
- Act as primary field liaison between suppliers and ECS supply/finance teams for scheduling collections, confirming load quality, and validating weights/sizes.
- Provide supervisory oversight of Copperbelt-based biomass operations teams, ensuring accountability through geolocation app monitoring and presence verification.
- Lead setup of structured supplier contracts and manage day-to-day supplier relationships, while strategic supplier agreements and final execution remain with senior staff (CBDO/COO).
D. Logistics, Processing, and Protocols
- Provide logistics input to Supply team, including feasibility of on-site chipping versus transporting unprocessed biomass.
- Conduct cost-benefit analysis of chipping at source versus factory transport, considering infrastructure, electricity access, and equipment use.
- Provide advisory support for drying and intake protocols to ensure optimal moisture content, particle size, and cleanliness.
- Assist in identifying opportunities for equipment deployment (e.g., spare chipper placement) at supplier sites.
- Maintain updated schedules for biomass pick-up, aligned with production demand forecasts.
E. SOP Development & Risk Mitigation
- Develop SOPs for biomass sourcing, logistics, drying, intake, and quality checks to enhance reliability and operational efficiency.
- Identify and document risk mitigation strategies for seasonal fluctuations, supplier dependency, and logistics bottlenecks.
- Integrate SOP and risk mitigation measures into HSES compliance frameworks.
F. Reporting & Monitoring
- Participate in daily stand-ups with CBDO to update on field activities, supplier performance, risks to biomass flow, and supervisory issues logged through the geolocation monitoring system.
- Submit weekly field reports with site visit findings, tonnage assessments, and recommendations.
- Track and flag any seasonal supply issues, transport constraints, or quality concerns.
3. Deliverables & KPIs
- Biomass Source Mapping – Maintain updated database of suppliers and identify ≥
2 new viable sources per quarter.
- Market Assessment Report – Deliver comprehensive biomass availability report by Month 1.
- Reporting & Monitoring – Submit weekly field updates, monthly inflow summaries, and final presentation on time with ≥ 95% accuracy.
- SOPs & Quality Control – Develop sourcing, drying, and intake SOPs by Month 5; ensure ≥ 95% of loads meet ECS quality standards.
- Supplier & Logistics Management – Maintain ≥ 90% supplier reliability rate; reduce cost per tonne transported against baseline.
- Two-Year Roadmap – Deliver supply roadmap by Month 6, approved by leadership.
- Team Leadership & Oversight – Ensure ≥ 90% geolocation compliance; resolve ≥ 90% of field issues promptly.
- Safety & Compliance – Zero unreported HSES incidents.
4. Qualifications & Experience
- Diploma or Degree in Forestry, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Supply Chain, or related field.
- Minimum 3–5 years’ practical experience in forestry, plantation management, agroforestry, biomass sourcing, or supply chain operations.
- Strong understanding of Zambia’s forestry and biomass markets, with proven ability to work with plantation companies, sawmills, and farmer networks.
- Demonstrated skills in supplier relationship management, contract oversight, and team supervision.
- Familiarity with logistics planning, including biomass transport, drying, and intake processes.
- Commitment to health, safety, environmental, and sustainability standards.
- Valid driver’s license (manual and automatic shift) and ability to travel extensively within Zambia.
- Regional exposure to Southern or East African biomass/forestry markets is desirable but not required.
5. Contract Duration & Phasing
Duration: Initial 6-month consultancy (aligned with TA budget under PIDG) with potential extension or conversion to staff role. Work Phases:
- Phase 1: Mobilisation & Initial Assessment (Month 1) Establish role, review existing biomass contracts and supplier arrangements, and complete initial market/supply chain assessment.
- Phase 2: Operational Implementation & Team Supervision (Months 1–6) Oversee day-to-day biomass sourcing, supervise Copperbelt operations teams using geolocation monitoring, and manage supplier contracts and relationships. Ensure ongoing supply reliability and adherence to HSES requirements.
- Phase 3: Systems & Process Development (Months 2–5) Develop and roll out SOPs for sourcing, logistics, drying, and intake. Strengthen supplier aggregation models, cost controls, and risk mitigation frameworks.
- Phase 4: Strategic Planning & Reporting (Months 3–6) Produce market assessment report, monthly summaries, and regular risk reports. Draft and finalise the two-year biomass supply roadmap, culminating in a final presentation to ECS leadership.
6. Working Relationships
- Internal: CBDO (technical lead), Ndola Office Manager (administrative), Supply Department, Production Supervisor, HSES & M&E Director, Finance Team, with escalation channel to Group COO.
- External: Plantation companies, sawmills, agroforestry partners, farmer groups, relevant government forestry offices.
