Experience
Executive(VP, Director)
Salary
Not specified
Posted
7 days ago
Deadline
in 10 days
Job Description
Job Title: Chief Executive Officer
Reports To: Board of Directors/Owner
Direct Reports: Chief Operations Officer (COO), Chief Administration and Finance Officer (CAFO)
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: HQ, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (with frequent international travel)
Executive Summary
The CEO will provide strategic, financial, and operational leadership for the company. In the context of the Ethiopian coffee industry—the backbone of the national economy—the CEO is responsible for navigating complex regulatory frameworks (ECX, Coffee & Tea Authority), volatile global commodity prices, and the transition toward value-added exports. By delegating internal operations to the COO and fiscal management to the CAFO, the CEO will focus on global brand positioning, strategic partnerships, and long-term sustainability.
1. Key Responsibilities
1.1 Strategic Vision & Market Expansion
❖ Accept or Re-Define and execute the company’s 5-year growth plan, focusing on expanding into "Specialty Coffee" markets in Europe, Asia-China, Russia and Japan, and North America.
❖ Identify and capitalize on emerging trends such as Direct Trade, organic/sustainability certifications, and carbon-neutral supply chains.
❖ Ensure that Marketing & Sales Head has Represent the company at international trade fairs (e.g., SCA, World of Coffee, Coffee Expo) to secure high-value contracts.
❖ Ensure that Marketing & Sales Head is in a position to Secure and maintain "Anchor Buyer" relationships.
1.2 Executive Oversight & Governance
❖ Direct Management: Provide mentorship and KPI-driven oversight for the COO (Supply chain, processing, logistics) and the CAFO (Finance, HR, legal, compliance).
❖ Ensure the company adheres to National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) forex regulations and export mandates.
❖ Oversight the COO to ensure vertical integration from washing stations to the port of Djibouti is seamless.
❖ Oversight the CAFO to ensure robust hedging against coffee price volatility and currency fluctuations.
❖ Ensure that Marketing & Sales Head has Identify and secure high-value contracts with international importers and specialty roasters. (For Marketing Head)
❖ Report quarterly to the Board on profitability, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, risk management and mitigation.
1.3 Stakeholder & Industrial Relations
❖ Act as the primary liaison with the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority and the Ethiopian Tea and Coffee Exporters Association and any other relevant institutions.
❖ Ensure that strategic alliances with key stakeholders in the company’s supply chain is built and maintained.
❖ Advocate for the company’s interests regarding export policies and logistics infrastructure (e.g., Ethio-Djibouti railway usage).
1.4 Financial Stewardship (High Level)
❖ Collaborate with the CAFO to approve annual budgets and capital expenditures (e.g., investing in state-of-the-art cleaning and sorting machinery).
❖ Oversee hedging strategies to manage risks associated with the C-Price (New York Coffee Exchange) and local price fluctuations.
❖ Navigate local regulatory frameworks regarding export earnings, forex requirements, and ECX (Ethiopian Commodity Exchange) or vertical integration laws.
Requirements
- Job Specifications (Requirements)
❖ Education: Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Economics, International Trade, or Agriculture or any related area;
❖ Experience: 12+ years of senior management experience, with at least 5 years in the Commodity Export sector (Coffee preferred).
❖ Industry Knowledge: Proven track record or Exposure in in international trade (preferred); understanding of the "Green Coffee" value chain and global market pricing (NYSE);
❖ Regulatory Knowledge: understanding of Ethiopian export laws, NBE directives, and international food safety standards (HACCP, ISO);
❖ Leadership Proven record of accomplishment of managing or exceptional ability to manage C-suite executives (COO & CAFO etc) and foster a culture of transparency and meritocracy.
- Core Competencies (Technical and Soft Skills):
❖ Cultural Intelligence: Ability to bridge the gap within the supply chain
❖ Forex Knowledge: understanding of how to manage export proceeds and navigate Ethiopia’s foreign exchange environment.
❖ Resilience: the CEO must be able to pivot strategies during low-yield years or shifting global market trends.
❖ Negotiation: Ability to close multi-million dollar contracts with international buyers while maintaining margins.
❖ Analytical Thinking: Proficiency in interpreting global market data, currency trends, and harvest forecasts.
Required Skills
Level
Executive(VP, Director)
Location
Addis Ababa
How to Apply
Interested and qualified applicants are invited to apply through the Ethiojobs platform.
Alternatively, applicants may send their CV and Cover Letter directly to: Vacancy@coffeenet.et.
Please ensure that the position title is clearly mentioned in the subject line of the email.