Research & Development Director at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)

Position Summary

• The West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (WATH) will seek to improve private sector competitiveness in Nigeria and West Africa with a focus on increasing the agricultural productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers in Nigeria and promoting West Africa’s regional and international trade.
• Toward this end, the Trade and Investment Hub Activity is jointly established and funded by USAID/Nigeria, USAID/West Africa, USAID/Cote d’Ivoire, USAID/Senegal, and other USAID Missions. The Activity comprises two main components: (i) design and administration of a Grant-making Facility for private sector partnerships and (ii) technical assistance (TA) that directly supports, coordinates, and engages with qualifying recipients (i.e., partners and grantees) to achieve USAID’s trade and food security objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The R&D Director will identify and establish relationships with potential businesses to form partnerships to scale, commercialize, disseminate and market new technologies, with a focus on breeding and genetics of major crop varieties and aquaculture species.
• He/She will maintain liaisons with both public and private partners that have committed support to the project and innovative win-win partnerships.

Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree in Agriculture, Economics, Business Administration or related field;
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in agribusiness, ag research and/or related sectors. 
• Must demonstrate relevant experience in Nigeria.
• Demonstration of strong communication skills
• Must demonstrate a capacity to form innovative win-win partnerships.
• Experience with challenge fund or other fund management is a plus.