Tupande Soko Operations Specialist (Fixed-Term) at One Acre Fund

Job Description

About the Role

Tupande’s Market Access team is seeking a meticulous and integrity-driven Soko Operations Specialist to strengthen accountability, compliance, and operational efficiency across the Market Access value chains. In this cross-functional role, you will lead routine and ad hoc inventory checks, verify goods movement, and monitor adherence to SOPs across sourcing, aggregation, delivery, and processing. Your work will help identify gaps, prevent losses, and maintain a high standard of operational integrity.
You will report to the Soko Chief of Staff and work closely with operation teams in the Soko value chains. This role is based in Sagana and is hybrid.

Responsibilities

Lead weekly, monthly, and random inventory counts at aggregation centers, storage sites, and processing points
Develop and implement value chain-specific controls to ensure sustainable operations
Reconcile inventory data with documentation, flag discrepancies, and escalate any anomalies
Monitor daily SOP compliance across all Soko operations: sourcing, aggregation, logistics, and processing
Generate structured compliance and inventory reports and maintain detailed audit logs
Identify and report losses, risks, or irregularities, and support teams to implement corrective actions
Provide process improvement insights to enhance internal controls and system efficiency

Qualifications

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

Integrity & Accountability – You maintain strong personal ethics and handle sensitive data responsibly
Attention to Detail – Precision in documentation, inventory, and process reviews
Critical Thinking – Ability to assess risks, analyze data, and offer practical solutions
Collaborative – Effective at engaging multiple stakeholders and driving operational alignment
3+ years of experience in operations, field execution, or agri-business development
Familiarity with smallholder value chains and rural aggregation systems
Exposure to certification standards (e.g., GlobalGAP, Rainforest Alliance, FSSC 22000)
Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements in agri-trade
Understanding of tree crop sourcing, aggregation, and processing is a plus
Willingness to travel frequently to rural sites (60–70% field-based)