1.    INTRODUCTION

KOPAKAMA (Koperative y’Abahinzi ba Kawa ba Mabanza) started on 15th October 1998 by 47 members.  During its creation, the purpose was to protect the interest of members by collecting the product composed mainly of ordinary coffee and looking for buyers who were also intermediates in the coffee value chain.

It becomes a cooperative in 2006 after getting the legal personality. Since that time, KOPAKAMA has a clear vision and mission. Up to now, the number of members has increased to 1,062 including 439 women. Kopakama’s overall objective is to improve the welfare of its members through growing and processing, quality coffee for selling on the international market.

Website: http://www.kopakama-rwandacoffee.com

2.    JOB SUMMARY 

To achieve its mission, KOPAKAMA cooperative hereby invites the qualified and experienced candidates to apply for the position of Executive Director, working under the guidance of the cooperative Board of directors, the Executive Director reports directly to the Chairperson of the board of Directors.

3.    RESPONSIBILITIES

Below are but not limited to Duties/Responsibilities of the Executive Director:

1. Ensuring good collaboration with the region coffee farmers’ members and non-members of the cooperative partners and other stakeholders in the coffee value chain.
2. Prepare and manage all activities of the coffee harvest season.
3. Prepare all requirements for cooperative access to finance and manage the relationship with all cooperative financing institutions and ethical lenders.
4. Ensuring good collaboration with local authorities, Cooperative partners in the coffee value chain, and other stakeholders.
5. Ensuring coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of all cooperative activities and programs.
6. Prepare all projects that may promote cooperatives development and its members.
7. Monitor closely the use of Cooperative resources and product management.
8. Securing market access for produces and pursuing contracts with coffee buyers.
9. Prepare long-term and short-term plans in accordance with guidelines given by the Board of directors of the cooperative.
10. Reporting of all cooperative operation activities and financial report as required
11. Carry out any other task assigned by the management of cooperative

4.    QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, the candidate will have:

• Have at least a Bachelor’s degree in Rural Development and Agribusiness, project management, Cooperative Management, management, and any other relevant qualification to her/his responsibilities.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in the Coffee value chain
• Be available to start the work no later than two weeks following the contract signing date.
• Excellent understanding of the Rwanda coffee sector, particularly issues related to coffee processing, business plan preparation, monitoring, and financial reporting.
• Proven representation skills.
• Strong commitment to capacity building of cooperative members, staff, and partners with a willingness to adopt participatory and consultative approaches.
• Experience in Coffee Certification Programs and diversification (Fairtrade, Organic, and UTZ).
• Experience writing donor funding project proposals.
• Ability to compile narrative sections and thematic budgets for proposals; ability to edit/write narrative reports, with reference to financial reporting.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including influencing, negotiation, presentation, and coaching.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda, verbal and written, required. French strongly desired.

Duty Station

The Executive Director will be stationed at the Kopakama office in Mushubati Sector, Rutsiro District.

Appointment – type and duration

If not otherwise stated, contracting is a full-time basis and permanent.

5.    APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

Applications must include the following documents:

• Detailed Curriculum vitae including your personal details, education level, and any relevant experience.
• A copy of his/her Identity card.
• Copy of her/his degrees – original Degree presentation will be requested for presentation for the selected candidate.
• Other certificates judged importantly and should be in one pdf document.

Interested candidates should forward their application letter together with all relevant documents to the email address provided below no later than 04 January 2021 at 5:00 PM. The required documents should be submitted in scanned soft copies in pdf format (preferably as one document) on 

[email protected]

Successful candidates will begin with an immediate effect.

For more details, please contact 0788348121 during working days and hours.

Done, on 23^rd December 2020

ABISHYAKA Alexis

KOPAKAMA Cooperative President