Program Director - Horticulture Sector Development, Nigeria at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

ID: 20120600
Locations: Kano, Kaduna, and a southern sector near Lagos
Type: Full-Time / Regular
Type of contract: Full Time International Position
Duration: 4 years
Expected Start Date: Q4 2021
Program: Horticultural Sector Development Program in Nigeria
Donor: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria

Program Description

• IFDC and its consortium partners are seeking to secure funding from EKN Nigeria to implement a transformational horticultural program in Nigeria by introducing innovative, sustainable and profitable horticultural productivity and market resilience value chain approaches leading to a sustainable transition of Nigeria’s food system; thus, from a system based on food imports, low productivity and depletion of natural resources, to an integrated sustainable food system, capable of providing sufficient, healthy and nutritious food to a growing (urban) population.
• The program is anticipated to run through fourth quarter of 2021 to the ending of 2025. For this reason, IFDC is seeking to recruit a well qualified candidate for the position of a Program Director to lead and manage the program.

Duties and Responsibilities
As a Program Director, incumbent is expected to perform the following roles and responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Provide the overall leadership of the entire project to ensure an integrated vision and successful achievement of EKN Nigeria Horti Sector development goals and objectives;
• Develop and direct the implementation team of experts of the consortium partners
• Develop, nurture and maintain effective working relationships with EKN Nigeria, agriculturalbased MSME, farmer-based organizations, Nigerian Government, other international players, and leaders in different sectors;
• Represent the project in meetings, conferences, and other opportunities conducive to publicizing, promoting, and marketing the project’s (and project partners’) achievements.

Overall Project Management:

• Lead regular project management meetings with consortium members;
• Ensure consistency among activities implemented;
• 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.

Communications and Outreach:

• Manage the communications strategy of the project;
• Supervise the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Communications Specialists to ensure transparency through adequate and proper reporting of success stories, case studies, fact sheets and other outreach materials;
• Develop learning agenda and enure proper management of the Knowledge System and advocacy strategy of the project;
• Review and approve all Public Relations materials;
• Establish, maintain and strengthen relationships with IFDC and consortium members involved in other projects relevant to the EKN Nigeria’s Horticultural Sector VC development project; taking into consideration the interest of the donor (EKN Nigeria), beneficiaries, Nigeria Government, and the private sector in Nigeria;
• Facilitate the internal communication and sharing of experiences among staff, including the consortium members.

Finance and Administration:

• Approve and Monitor overall project expenditure;
• Ensure all activities are conducted within the scope of the project budget;
• Ensure that cost share is obtained from partners as planned and properly accounted for;
• Ensure proper compilation and approval of annual financial reports;
• Ensure proper compilation and approval of Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation reports and outcomes.

Requirements

• A minimum of 15 years of experience in implementing agricultural projects, preferably horticultural projects.
• Experience in Nigeria is preferred
• Senior Management Experience;
• Experience in Public Private Partnership Development;
• Strong proficiency in English (ability to speak French is a plus), be a strong communicator
• Strong security expertise and experienced traveler
• Good understanding of the Development Objectives of the Netherlands; preferably experience in implementation of Dutch Development Programs;
• Preferably an advanced degree in Agriculture.