Programme Director - Soil Values at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in Abuja

About Programme / Project

Soil Values is a 10-years programme financed by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Teamwork (DGIS) with a aspiration to catalyze maintainable and resilient agricultural transformation across West Africa by embedding soil health and fertility management into broader agricultural development endeavors. With an driven goal of assisting 1.5 million small-scale food producers, restoring 2 million hectares of degraded land, and catalyzing a transformative change in soil health and agricultural adaptability across the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Northern Nigeria). Soil Values possesses three types of associates that work closely together with the national associates for execution 1) The three Consortium associates (IFDC, SNV, WUR) are directly participated with the execution of the programme, 2) Convening work collaboratively (AGRA) and Expertise associates (ICRAF, IITA, ISRIC, and IWMI). Robust partnership with World Bank, Invoice and Melinda Gates Foundation, West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Economic Group of West African States (ECOWAS) among other associates is key for the success of the programme.

Duties Executive guidance:

• Offer the entire aspiration and executive guidance of the project;
• Build, mentor and steer a robust execution team of professionals;
• Stand for the project in sessions, professional forums, and other avenues conducive to publicizing, supporting and promotion the project’s (and project associates’) accomplishments;
• Preserve coherence between initiatives in West Africa, initiatives by project associates and the private sector associates;
• Preserve robust and efficient operating connections with DGIS and country EKNs through regular updates as per the communications strategy and other adhoc information exchange necessary.

Communications and outreach:

• Supervise the convening, outreach and communications plan of the project;
• Oversee communications specialists and mentor them on topics to be highlighted through success stories, case studies, fact sheets and other outreach materials;
• Supervise the expertise & learning which includes support plan of the project;
• Evaluate and authorize all brand communications materials.

Finance and management:

• Authorize and track entire project spending which includes spending rates of the project and consortium associates;
• Verify that every initiatives are executed inside the scope of the project financial plan;
• Assure that cost distribute is secured from associates as organized and properly accounted for and that buy-in targets are fulfilled;
• Assemble and authorize yearly finance reporting and M&E documentation and results.

Qualifications

• MSC (or equivalent) in Business Management, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Development Economics; Rural Development;
• At least 15 years of practical experience in international agricultural development, with a sizable portion of this expertise in West Africa;
• Documented performance of completion and competence in soil fertility management, with a strong insight of maintainable agricultural procedures;
• Exhibited top level management and executive guidance expertise, which includes monitoring sophisticated projects or teams;
• Established and active connections with primary stakeholders in West Africa, both in the public and private sectors, connected with agricultural development and soil fertility;
• Expertise in conceptualizing strategic collaborations with a multifaceted range of participants, which includes governments and government entities, private sector actors, and development associates;
• Fluent in both French and English, empowering efficient partnership in diverse settings;
• Exceptional verbal abilities, both documented and verbal, to productively communicate project goals and accomplishments.

Compensation Perks:

IFDC's perks comprise of yearly and medical absence, health and group life benefits package, a 13th-month remuneration, community-related guard and pension payment in adherence with local legal provisions and end-of-agreement perks.