Geoportal Manager – Soil Values (Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger)

About IFDC

The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a public international organization that advances soil health and strengthens agricultural systems through science-based innovation. For over 50 years, IFDC has translated research into practical solutions that improve nutrient use efficiency, restore degraded soils, strengthen local agricultural markets and expand opportunity for smallholder farmers, especially women and youth. 

We work with farmers, governments and private sector partners to build resilient farming systems that produce nutritious food, improve livelihoods, and safeguard natural resources for future generations.

Our Values

We are guided by four core principles:
Collaborate – We work across teams, countries and partners to create lasting impact.
Innovate – We apply evidence and continuous learning to design practical and responsible solutions.
Include – We promote equity and meaningful participation for women, youth and underrepresented groups.
Act with Integrity – We steward resources responsibly, uphold transparency and remain accountable to the communities, partners, staff and donors who place their trust in us.       

Position summary

The Geoportal Manager will be responsible for the end-to-end management of the Soil Values Geoportal, including data integration, system administration, user experience, and stakeholder engagement. The position holder will oversee the design, development, deployment and operationalization of the Geoportal platform with internal expertise within the program and with third party service providers. 

The role involves maintaining the accuracy, security, and reliability of geospatial datasets; coordinating with partners to source new data; and leading platform improvements that enhance usability and impact. The manager will work closely with the SV MEL manager to ensure smooth integration of the Geoportal platform with the SV MEL system.

The ideal candidate will combine strong technical expertise in GIS and web-based geospatial platforms with excellent project management and communication skills.

Responsibilities 

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Soil Values Geoportal platform;
• Lead planning, documentation, and tracking of geoportal-related activities;
• Oversee system updates, backend configurations, and performance optimization; 
• Collaborate with the MEL team to design framework/system that avoid duplication in visualizing key performance indicators of the program;
• Lead enhancements to platform features, tools, and user interface; 
• Ensure interoperability with external systems, APIs, and national data infrastructures; 
• Coordinate sourcing, validation, and integration of geospatial datasets (soil, climate, land use, agronomy, etc.); 
• Maintain metadata standards, data quality protocols, and version control; 
• Ensure data security, backups, and compliance with data sharing agreements; 
• Coordinate technical guidance and troubleshooting support to internal and external users; 
• Conduct training sessions for government partners, researchers, and project teams; 
• Coordinate the development of user manuals, training materials, and data guides; 
• Lead the collaboration of government agencies, research institutions, and development partners; 
• Oversee partner data contributions and ensure alignment with project objectives; 
• Prepare periodic reports including technical updates, dashboards, and data usage analytics; 
• Contribute to proposals, project plans, and strategic digital innovation initiatives. 

Requirements

• A master’s degree in Geospatial Engineering, software development, GIS, Computer Science, and/or related field;
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience with web-based GIS platforms (e.g., ArcGIS Online/Enterprise, GeoNode, GeoServer, MapServer, QGIS Server) and familiarity with remote sensing and geospatial analytics workflows; 
• Proficiency in GIS tools such as QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, or equivalent; 
• Understanding web technologies: Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, REST APIs; 
• Experience working with spatial databases (PostGIS preferred); 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders;
• Experience in multicultural and multilingual environments;
• Fluency in speaking and writing English and French;
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the West African region.

Reporting and Work Relationships

The Geoportal manager will report to the Deputy Program Director Operations and will benefit from the coaching of the Program Director and other senior leaders within the program. He/she will work in close collaboration with the MEL manager and Soil Values colleagues from other consortium members and Knowledge partners. 

Location

This is a national recruitment with a duty station at the IFDC office in any of the four focus countries (Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger). 

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 10.  

The determination of new employee salaries considers 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.

Diversity Clause

IFDC is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe in the value of bringing together people with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. All employment decisions at IFDC are made on the basis of ability, performance, and organizational need, in alignment with our values of fairness, respect, and opportunity for all.

About Project/Program

Soil Values (SV) is a 10-year program funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS). The goal of the program is to address soil fertility constraints and achieve sustainable management of soil fertility in a way that contributes to ecologically sustainable improvements in food productivity and to increase resilience of small-scale food producers in the Sahel.

A consortium consisting of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), and Wageningen University (WUR) has secured funding from DGIS for the Soil Values program expected to be implemented from 2024 to 2033 in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Northern Nigeria. This consortium is complemented by five knowledge partners – AGRA, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ISRIC – World Soil Information, and International Water Management Institute (IWMI), all of which are recognized leaders in their respective fields.