Operations Lead at Pricepally

Job Description

• The Operations Lead will provide day-to-day leadership for PricePally's programme operations across all approved locations. The role is accountable for converting programme plans into coordinated field delivery, ensuring that people, infrastructure, logistics, supply-chain activities and operational controls work together to achieve agreed outputs, work opportunities and market outcomes.
• The post-holder will lead operational planning, mobilisation, field execution, logistics coordination, asset utilisation, health and safety, service standards and issue resolution. Working closely with the Programme Director, COO, zonal teams and functional managers, the Operations Lead will ensure that aggregation, storage, transport, digital coordination and market distribution operate as one reliable farm-to-market system.
• The role will embed safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, environmental responsibility and duty of care in operational delivery, while building practical systems that support quality, efficiency, accountability and continuity beyond programme funding.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Planning and Delivery Management

• Translate approved programme workplans into detailed operational schedules, deployment plans, responsibilities and service-level expectations across zones, states and delivery sites.
• Coordinate daily and weekly execution across zonal coordination, supply chain, logistics, HSE, human resources and other operational support functions.
• Establish practical operating procedures, escalation pathways, handover requirements and control points for field and hub activities.
• Track operational milestones, dependencies and constraints, intervening early to resolve delays, capacity gaps and service failures.
• Ensure field operations remain aligned with approved budgets, participant targets, market demand, quality standards and delivery schedules.
• Provide timely operational reports and decision recommendations to the Programme Director and COO.

Field Operations, Hubs and Service Quality

• Oversee readiness, activation and effective use of aggregation centres, storage facilities, cold-chain assets, vehicles, equipment and other programme infrastructure.
• Maintain consistent operating standards for produce receipt, weighing, grading, sorting, storage, dispatch, traceability and documentation.
• Coordinate zonal teams to ensure timely participant mobilisation, field support, activity execution and issue escalation.
• Implement routine site inspections, operational spot checks and corrective-action tracking across programme locations.
• Monitor throughput, turnaround time, asset utilisation, losses, service quality and other operational performance indicators.
• Ensure operational processes are accessible and responsive to young women, persons with disabilities, IDPs and other target participants.

Supply Chain, Logistics and Market Fulfilment

• Coordinate production forecasts, aggregation requirements, transport capacity, storage availability and buyer delivery schedules with relevant teams and partners.
• Ensure first-mile and last-mile logistics are planned and executed safely, efficiently and with adequate contingency arrangements.
• Work with Supply Chain and Commercial teams to align sourcing, inventory, dispatch and fulfilment decisions with verified demand.
• Monitor produce loss, damage, rejection, route performance and fulfilment failures, ensuring root causes and corrective actions are documented.
• Maintain operational relationships with logistics providers, facility operators, producer organisations, community partners and service vendors.
• Support scalable logistics-pooling and shared-infrastructure models that improve access and reduce cost for programme participants.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Inclusion and Learning

• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Inclusion Manager to translate indicators and evidence requirements into practical field data-collection and verification processes.
• Ensure field teams maintain accurate participant, activity, asset, logistics, inventory, incident and transaction records within required timelines.
• Review operational dashboards and disaggregated performance data to identify delivery gaps, inclusion barriers and emerging risks.
• Facilitate participant feedback and complaints processes and ensure operational issues are closed transparently and promptly.
• Contribute accurate operational inputs to programme reports, reviews, audits, case studies and learning products.
• Use evidence from field delivery to recommend improvements to procedures, resource allocation and implementation models.

Resource, Risk, Compliance and Administration

• Prepare operational forecasts, procurement schedules, travel plans and resource requests, ensuring expenditure remains within approved workplans and delegated authority.
• Maintain effective controls for assets, fuel, inventory, vehicles, facilities, equipment and other operational resources.
• Identify and manage operational, security, HSE, environmental, safeguarding, reputational and continuity risks, escalating material concerns promptly.
• Ensure vendors, contractors and operational partners meet agreed service, documentation, ethical and compliance requirements.
• Support audits and monitoring visits by providing complete operational records and implementing agreed corrective actions.
• Promote value for money through route optimisation, asset pooling, preventative maintenance, loss reduction and disciplined resource use.

People and Team Leadership

• Lead, coach and hold accountable zonal and operational teams, establishing clear objectives, decision rights and performance expectations.
• Create an inclusive, respectful and delivery-focused culture that encourages collaboration, ethical conduct, learning and constructive challenge.
• Work with the Human Resources Officer on workforce planning, recruitment, deployment, attendance, performance management and staff welfare for operational teams.
• Ensure all programme personnel and relevant partners receive appropriate orientation and periodic training on safeguarding, PSEA, inclusion, health and safety, data protection and the Code of Conduct.
• Address performance, conduct, team wellbeing and capacity gaps promptly in collaboration with Human Resources and the Programme Director.
• Develop succession, knowledge-transfer and institutional-strengthening approaches that reduce dependency on individuals and support continuity.

Safeguarding and Duty of Care

• Demonstrate visible leadership for a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, discrimination, bullying, retaliation and abuse of power or trust.
• Ensure safe, confidential and accessible reporting and referral pathways are established for staff, partners, participants and communities.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are escalated immediately through approved channels and managed using survivor-centred, confidential and non-retaliatory practices.
• Promote safe programming through risk assessment, partner due diligence, informed consent, responsible data management and routine compliance checks.

Requirements

Competencies

• Strong operational leadership and the ability to translate workplans into coordinated field execution and measurable service standards.
• Strong understanding of agrifood supply chains, aggregation, warehousing, cold chain, transport, inventory and market fulfilment.
• Demonstrated competence in multi-site operations, resource planning, vendor management, risk control and performance reporting.
• Ability to lead geographically dispersed teams and coordinate multiple functions under changing field conditions.
• Strong commercial judgement and ability to balance participant needs, quality, speed, cost and operational sustainability.
• Strong analytical, planning, negotiation, decision-making and practical problem-solving skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including concise operational reporting and escalation.
• High integrity, discretion, cultural sensitivity, emotional intelligence and commitment to safeguarding and inclusive development.

Experience

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in operations management, agribusiness, logistics, supply chains, programme delivery or a related field.
• At least four (4) years in a management role with accountability for multi-site teams, operational budgets, assets and service delivery.
• Proven experience coordinating field operations within an externally funded, commercial or multi-partner programme environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing vendors, facilities, transport, inventory, operational risks and geographically dispersed teams.
• Experience implementing or scaling market-access, aggregation, logistics, cold-chain, distribution or agricultural value-chain operations.
• Experience integrating gender equality, disability inclusion, youth participation and safeguarding into programme delivery and performance management.
• Experience in Nigeria's agricultural or food-market context is strongly preferred.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Project Management or another relevant discipline.
• A relevant master's degree or recognised postgraduate professional qualification is desirable.
• Professional certification in supply chain, logistics, operations, project management, quality or HSE is an advantage.

Other Requirements

• Existing legal right to live and work in Nigeria.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to programme locations, subject to approved duty-of-care and security arrangements.
• Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, identity and qualification verification, conflict-of-interest disclosure and applicable background, safeguarding, criminal-record and counter-terrorist-financing checks.
• The position is offered on a 3-year fixed-term contract, subject to confirmation of the programme award, execution of the relevant partnership arrangements and continued availability of funding.
• Salary, benefits, working arrangements and other employment conditions: [Will be confirmed at interview].