Program Director – Soil Values

About IFDC

IFDC is a public international organization active in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, and America. IFDC uniquely approaches the global issues of food security and poverty by bridging the gap between research and impact, combining science-based innovations, holistic market systems development, an enabling policy environment, and strategic partnerships to assist farmers and countries to identify and scale sustainable agricultural solutions, including improved nutrient use efficiency. These approaches are needed to boost soil health and crop productivity while reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer use. IFDC translates research into action by using locally driven, environmentally sound, and impact-oriented solutions. With our partners, we seek to close the yield gap, eradicate global hunger, safeguard the soil on which our lives depend, and generate economic resilience for farming households and the countries in which they live.  

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Provide the overall vision and leadership of the project;
• Build, guide and steer a strong implementation team of experts;
• Represent the project in meetings, conferences, and other opportunities conducive to publicizing, promoting and marketing the project’s (and project partners’) achievements;
• Maintain coherence between activities in West Africa, activities by project partners and the private sector partners;
• Maintain strong and effective working relationships with DGIS and country EKNs through frequent updates as per the communications plan and other adhoc communication required.

Overall programmatic management

• Lead regular project management meetings with our consortium members;
• Initiate and organize project supervisory board meetings at least twice a year and other key meetings;
• Ensure consistency among activities implemented in the 4 priority countries;
• Monitor project overall expenditure and private sector contribution against budgets and ensure financial compliance to both donor requirements and IFDC procedures;
• Supervise completion of timely and high-quality work plans, progress reports and financial reports;
• Monitor project indicators in accordance with the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation;
• Plan, evaluate program results and take necessary corrective actions whenever needed;
• Collaborate with IFDC HQ to ensure that managerial, administrative and financial procedures comply with provisions of the project contract, the donor regulations and IFDC policies;

Communications and outreach

• Oversee the convening, outreach and communications strategy of the project;
• Supervise communications specialists and guide them on topics to be highlighted through success stories, case studies, fact sheets and other outreach materials;
• Oversee the knowledge & learning including advocacy strategy of the project;
• Review and approve all public relations materials.

Finance and administration

• Approve and monitor overall project expenditure including expenditure rates of the project and consortium partners;
• Ensure all activities are conducted within the scope of the project budget;
• Assure that cost share is obtained from partners as planned and properly accounted for and that buy-in targets are met;
• Compile and approve annual financial reporting and monitoring and evaluation reports and outcomes.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in business management, agribusiness, agricultural economics, development economics; rural development;
• A minimum of 15 years of hands-on experience in international agricultural development, with a sizable portion of this experience in West Africa;
• Proven record of accomplishment and expertise in soil fertility management, with a deep understanding of sustainable agricultural practices;
• Demonstrated senior management and leadership experience, including overseeing complex projects or teams;
• Established and active relationships with key stakeholders in West Africa, both in the public and private sectors, related to agricultural development and soil fertility;
• Experience in developing partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments and government entities, private sector actors, and development partners;
• Fluent in both French and English, enabling effective collaboration in multicultural settings;
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey project objectives and achievements.

Reporting and Work Relationships

This role reports to the Vice-President of Programs. In addition, (s)he will collaborate closely with Country Directors and other program leads/Director to create leverage and synergy.

Location

This is an international (expat) role based in the IFDC office in Abuja, Nigeria.

Benefits

IFDC's benefits include annual and sick leave, health and group life insurance coverage, a 13th-month salary, social security and pension contribution in compliance with local laws and end-of-contract benefits. 

Salary Clause

The salary grade for this position is BG 11. 

The determination of new employee salaries takes into account various factors. These include the salary range linked to the assigned job grade, the candidate's qualifications in relation to the job's responsibilities and prerequisites, internal fairness, the competitive state of the job market, as well as potential organizational and budgetary considerations.

About Program/Project

Soil Values is a 10-years program funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) with a vision to catalyze sustainable and resilient agricultural transformation across West Africa by embedding soil health and fertility management into broader agricultural development efforts. With an ambitious aim of supporting 1.5 million small-scale food producers, restoring 2 million hectares of degraded land, and catalyzing a transformative shift in soil health and agricultural resilience across the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Northern Nigeria). Soil Values has three types of partners that work closely together with the national partners for implementation 1) The three Consortium partners (IFDC, SNV, WUR) are directly involved with the implementation of the program, 2) Convening partner (AGRA) and Knowledge partners (ICRAF, IITA, ISRIC, and IWMI). Strong collaboration with World Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) among other partners is key for the success of the program.