Biomass Procurement & Supply Chain Officer

About the Role

Join the team at HI-TECH MICA PVT LTD as a Biomass Procurement & Supply Chain Officer, based in Krishnagar, Nadia District, West Bengal. As a vital part of our biochar project, the officer will oversee the entire supply chain of agricultural residues such as jute sticks, rice husk, mustard stalks, and maize residue. This position entails extensive fieldwork and requires fluent communication in Bengali along with working knowledge of Hindi or English.

Primary Responsibilities

• Identify, recruit, and manage local agricultural intermediaries including farias, aggregators, and transport providers in Krishnagar and nearby regions.
• Establish lasting procurement agreements with rice mills for consistent rice husk sourcing.
• Collaborate with NABARD-supported Farmer Producer Organisations and local Gram Panchayats to secure large volumes of agricultural residue.
• Conduct awareness campaigns at the village level to encourage farmers to sell biomass directly to our collection centers, reducing residue burning.
• Enforce quality standards when purchasing, including monitoring moisture levels and contamination through digital meters.
• Implement tiered pricing based on biomass quality, applying discounts for higher moisture content.
• Plan seasonal crop mapping to anticipate fluctuations in biomass availability across various crops.
• Coordinate affordable transportation logistics from fields to storage and production sites using local vehicles.
• Manage inventory at central storage yards to ensure careful stacking, ventilation, and adherence to fire safety, especially for bulky materials like jute sticks and straw.
• Ensure strategic stockpiling of dry biomass before monsoon seasons to maintain continuous plant operations.
• Keep transparent records of weights, quality metrics, and payment details for all procured biomass.
• Prepare regular reports including procurement costs and volume forecasts for management review.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum of 2-5 years of experience in rural procurement, agricultural supply chains, agribusiness, or raw material sourcing, preferably within West Bengal's agriculture sector.
• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or related fields like Agribusiness Management, Supply Chain, or Business Administration; relevant field experience may compensate for formal education.
• Strong geographic and cultural understanding of Nadia district and its agricultural practices.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills, comfortable engaging with smallholder farmers, local traders, mill owners, and government representatives.
• Possession of a valid two-wheeler driving license and a personal vehicle to facilitate extensive rural travel.
• Basic proficiency with smartphones and computers to record procurement data, communicate effectively, and manage simple spreadsheets.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Raised in a rural farming family within Nadia district (e.g., Tehatta, Nakashipara, Chapra) with intimate knowledge of local agricultural cycles and residue handling practices.
• Fluent in Bengali dialects to build trust and rapport with rural communities, understanding their perspectives on crop residue usage.
• Energetic and mobile, comfortable navigating rural environments, fields, and participating in hands-on quality auditing in various weather conditions.
• Possesses strong integrity paired with practical street-smart skills to accurately manage procurement transactions and prevent fraud by middlemen.

Additional Information

This role reports directly to the Project Manager or Operations Head and requires full-time dedication with field-intensive work. Applicants should be prepared for extensive travel within rural clusters of Nadia. Please submit your resume to the provided email address for consideration.