Head of Banana Operations

Job Description Location: Maharashtra (Mumbai HQ + frequent travel to Solapur, Jalgaon, Narayangaon) Company: Bharat Intelligence About Bharat Intelligence Bharat Intelligence is building India's first AI-powered Rural Labour Operating System designed to organise 14 crore agricultural labourers into a structured, skilled and dignified workforce. We work across high-intensity horticulture belts to provide farmers with reliable, trained labour for complex operations improving productivity, reducing crop loss and ensuring dignified livelihoods for workers. We are now expanding aggressively into Banana, one of Maharashtra's largest and fastest-growing horticulture sectors. For this, we are hiring a Category Manager Banana, who will lead the entire business unit. Role Overview This is a senior leadership role responsible for building, scaling and owning the entire Banana Labour Solutions business across Maharashtra. You will be accountable for both supply (labour) and demand (farmers), along with full P&L ownership. You will build two major categories: 1. Fruit Care Labour Packs full-stack, end-to-end fruit care management across bud injections, deflowering, spraying, skirt bagging, pouching and other SOP-driven tasks. 2. Banana Harvesting Solutions organising the currently unstructured harvesting market, recruiting and training reliable teams, and deploying them across thousands of acres. This position requires deep operational expertise, category creation experience, a strong understanding of Maharashtra's banana value chain and the ability to build a high-performing field organisation. Key Responsibilities Business Ownership & P&L Management - Own the category P&L end-to-end, including revenue, margins, utilisation, supply costs and operational spend. - Build a scalable business model for banana labour services across Maharashtra. - Set monthly, quarterly and annual category targets and deliver against them. Build & Scale Fruit Care Labour Solutions - Work with international buyers, exporters and agronomists to develop best-in-class SOPs. - Translate buyer requirements into field-executable Work Packs. - Build and train labour teams for specialised fruit care operations (bud injection, deflowering, pest management, shielding, bagging etc.). - Ensure high-quality, verifiable execution through supervisors, QC mechanisms and labour incentives. Organise & Scale Banana Harvesting Operations - Map the current harvesting ecosystem across Solapur, Jalgaon and surrounding belts. - Recruit, train and manage large harvesting teams. - Standardise harvesting procedures, safety protocols, tools and logistics. - Build a deployment engine capable of handling thousands of acres per season. Demand-Side Ownership (Farmer Engagement & Sales) - Activate and convert our existing network of thousands of banana farmers. - Build farmer advisory funnels, demo days and WhatsApp-driven campaigns. - Partner with exporters, FPCs and aggregators to secure forward demand. - Ensure high repeat usage through reliable service delivery and farmer satisfaction. Supply-Side Leadership (Labour Sourcing & Training) - Recruit and manage sourcing teams to build reliable labour supply pools across Maharashtra. - Drive local labour engagement, tribal belt sourcing and corridor recruitment where needed. - Build training modules, certification processes and productivity-linked incentive systems. Operational Excellence - Establish SOPs, checklists and QC processes for all field operations. - Plan logistics, tools, materials and supervisor deployment. - Solve problems proactively across accommodation, welfare, transport and cluster management. - Ensure labour well-being, compliance and humane working conditions. Team Leadership - Build and lead a multi-layered team of sourcing managers, supervisors, field officers, marketing coordinators and labour trainers. - Drive performance through OKRs, data, training and continuous reviews. - Foster a culture of accountability, empathy and operational discipline. What We Are Looking For Required Experience - 5+ years in agriculture operations, horticulture management, banana value chain, agri-services or category ownership roles. - Deep operational understanding of banana cultivation, fruit care and harvesting practices in Maharashtra. - Prior experience working with banana farmers, exporters or supply-chain operators. - Strong experience leading large field teams in complex rural settings. - Proven ability to build systems, SOPs, P&Ls and scalable business units. Skills & Attributes - Fluency in Marathi (mandatory). - Strong execution muscle with the ability to handle high-velocity field operations. - Data-driven decision-making and strong problem-solving skills. - Comfort with rural travel across Solapur, Jalgaon, Narayangaon and other belts. - Ability to build trust with farmers, labourers, buyers and village-level influencers. - Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action and ownership. What This Role Offers - Ownership of a high-growth category with massive state-wide potential. - Direct influence on Maharashtra's export competitiveness in banana. - A chance to transform labour markets for one of India's largest crops. - Leadership role with the ability to grow into Vice President Horticulture. - High autonomy and direct collaboration with the CEO & CTO. - The opportunity to create meaningful economic impact for farmers and labourers. How to Apply Email your CV to [Confidential Information] - Subject: Application Category Manager (Banana)