Digital Transformation Manager at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Description

• The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture seeks suitable Nigerian nationals for the position below at the Institute’s Headquarters in Ibadan.

Duties
Digital Strategy and Leadership:

• Develop and lead the implementation of a costed Digital Transformation Strategy and roadmap for I-Youth 2.0 across Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone, aligned with the project's theory of change and the broader Youth in Agribusiness digital strategy.
• Provide strategic advice to the Executive Manager, I-Youth 2.0, CEO, Youth in Agribusiness, PMO and Country Coordinators on digital transformation priorities, opportunities, risks and investment decisions.
• Champion a culture of data-driven and technology-enabled program delivery, ensuring that digital solutions are demand-led, user-centered and embedded across program operations.
• Represent the project's digital transformation agenda at donor engagements, technical forums, partnership meetings and knowledge-sharing platforms.

Digital Systems and Platform Management:

• Lead the design, deployment, integration and continuous improvement of the project's digital ecosystem, including mobile data collection systems, SMS platforms, e-learning platforms, digital advisory tools such as AKILIMO, real-time monitoring dashboards and the one-stop-shop data portal.
• Oversee the integration and harmonization of data from multiple sources—including mobile devices, SMS platforms, online systems, pre- and post-training assessments, spreadsheets and survey tools—into a reliable and interoperable digital ecosystem that supports program implementation and decision-making.
• Coordinate with technology vendors and service providers to ensure timely delivery, system functionality, quality assurance, data security and value for money of digital platforms and services.
• Ensure that digital tools and platforms are accessible and appropriate for low connectivity and low-digital-literacy environments, including offline functionality and local-language options where relevant.
• Support the digitalization of Agribusiness Park operations, enterprise incubation and acceleration tracking, youth cluster/cooperative management and workforce development/tracer study processes.

Digital Innovation and Youth Capacity Development:

• Lead the design and rollout of digital skills development initiatives for youth participants, project staff and implementing partners, strengthening their capacity to effectively use digital advisory, e-learning, enterprise management and other relevant digital tools.
• Promote the adoption of climate-smart and agri-technology solutions among youth-led enterprises, working with technical teams and CGIAR partners to identify, pilot, adapt and scale appropriate digital innovations.
• Identify, assess and pilot emerging digital solutions, including digital financial services, e-commerce and market-linkage platforms, geospatial technologies and remote sensing applications for land use and climate-smart agriculture tracking.
• Support youth-facing digital engagement platforms, including the Youth Champions Network and Youth Communication Network, in collaboration with the communications team.

Data Management, MEL and Reporting:

• Work closely with the MEL team to ensure that digital systems and dashboards accurately capture, integrate, visualize and report program indicators to support adaptive management, donor reporting and PAC/PMO decision-making.
• Establish and enforce appropriate standards and protocols for data quality, data governance, protection, privacy, cybersecurity and digital safeguarding, in line with IITA, donor and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Monitor digital platform performance, user adoption, utilization and return on investment, and recommend improvements or course corrections as required.
• Provide timely digital transformation updates and inputs into quarterly, annual and other program reports.

Coordination, Partnerships and Capacity Building:

• Provide technical guidance and support to country-level digital/MEL focal points and Country Coordinators in planning and implementing digital transformation activities.
• Build and manage strategic relationships with technology partners, CGIAR centers, financial service providers, telecommunications companies, digital platform providers and other ecosystem actors to advance the project's digital transformation agenda.
• Coordinate with the PMO, Program Manager, Financial Manager, M&E Specialist and Procurement Specialist to ensure that digital investments are appropriately planned, budgeted, procured, deployed and monitored.
• Strengthen the capacity of project staff and implementing partners in the effective use of digital tools, cybersecurity awareness, data protection and responsible data use.
• Document and disseminate lessons, good practices and evidence from digital interventions to support program learning, replication and scale.

Other Responsibilities:

• Perform any other duties relevant to the role as assigned by the Executive Manager, I-Youth 2.0, or the CEO, Youth in Agribusiness.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Digital Innovation, Data Science, Agricultural Economics with a strong digital/ICT4D focus, or a related discipline is required, while professional certification in digital transformation, project management (PMP, PRINCE2), or data management/analytics will be an added advantage. The position also requires a minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in digital transformation, ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development), MIS/data systems management, or digital innovation, ideally within agriculture, agribusiness, or youth development programmes, including at least four (4) years in a senior technical or managerial role leading digital transformation, MEL/data systems, or technology teams.

Competencies:}
The ideal candidate must have:

• Demonstrated experience designing and managing digital data collection, monitoring dashboards, and information management systems for donor-funded, multi-country program.
• Experience deploying digital advisory, e-learning or agri-technology tools among rural or youth populations in low-connectivity environments.
• Proven experience managing technology vendors, service providers and digital platform subscriptions, including procurement and contract oversight.
• Experience working across multiple countries or in West Africa, with an understanding of the operating context in Nigeria, Liberia and/or Sierra Leone considered an advantage.
• Familiarity with data protection, privacy and safeguarding standards applicable to digital tools used with youth participants.
• Strong strategic thinking and digital transformation leadership skills.
• Sound technical knowledge of mobile data collection tools, MIS/dashboards, e-learning platforms and digital advisory/agri-technology solutions.
• Excellent project and vendor management skills, with the ability to manage multiple digital initiatives across countries simultaneously.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into actionable insights for programme decision-making.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, coaching and capacity-building skills, including the ability to build digital literacy among non-technical staff and youth participants.
• Strong communication, presentation and report-writing skills.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, innovation and accountability.
• Ability to work independently across multiple

Benefits

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.