Program Manager at Olam Agri

Job Description

The world is facing a global climate crisis and a global biodiversity crisis, to which unsustainable agriculture and associated habitat loss and soil degradation are huge contributors. Feeding 10 billion people sustainably by 2050, within the planetary boundaries, is the greatest challenge of our lifetime.  With some 2.5 million farmers and 10 million hectares in our supply chains and our on-the-ground presence—through out-grower programmes, our farms and processing units, and our supply and distribution networks—OGA businesses can make a tangible, positive impact on people, nature, and the climate. 

As Agri-value Chain Manager (Regenerative Agriculture), specifically for value-chains of Grains (e.g., Soy, Maize, and Wheat) within the Processing and Value-Add (P&VA) Business verticals, you will be responsible for managing the projects/programs within the grains’ upstream and downstream supply chain by implementing training programs for regenerative ag practices to improve soil health and livelihoods, thereby driving the project implementation, as well as marketing and project coordination of downstream supply chain (such as Bakers’ program). You will be a key resource as a technical advisor to the internal stakeholders. You will work closely with your manager and internal stakeholders to drive these NCS (nature-based climate solutions) programs that can generate business values through carbon removals/reductions.

Key Deliverables

• Designing, developing, supporting, and driving practical innovations and farmers’ programs to promote regenerative agriculture, improve soil health, improve irrigation practices, improve residue management, improve post-harvest losses, and conserve biodiversity around the farm.
• Develop training materials and build internal capacity around technical implementation of regenerative agriculture principles and to effectively transfer knowledge and technology to smallholder farmer supply chains in soy, wheat, and maize supply chains
• Develop holistic approaches through multi-stakeholder platforms and partnerships that positively impact multiple sustainability goals and programs, including livelihoods, food security, ecosystems, and climate
• Work as a core team member for on-farm carbon projects that will be developed using regenerative agriculture practices generating value from emissions reductions, avoided emissions, and carbon removals/sequestration, as well as delivering socio-economic impacts
• Monitoring and reporting relevant risks, progress, and impacts of the farmers’ supply chain programs
• Sustainability-related project management for the Wheat Milling Business Unit on the downstream (Bakers’ program)

Requirements

• A personal passion for sustainable agriculture and food systems
• 8-10+ years in relevant roles, including significant experience working within large organizations, with demonstrable experience in driving the adoption of sustainable agriculture and positive environmental impacts in relevant projects and programs.
• Educational Qualification (Degree or Masters or PhD) /equivalent technical of relevant agriculture/soil science/ environmental science disciplines.
• Outstanding program management and organizational skills, including high team management and goal-setting, team skills development, workflow, and budget management, and a focus on delivering and implementing projects on the ground to scale the impact.
• Experience preferred in relevant agricultural crops and landscapes and a sound appreciation of the human dimensions of rural agriculture, conservation, and development.
• Self-reliance, motivation and willingness to travel and work in remote locations and sometimes challenging circumstances.
• Experience in managing complex projects within a large organisation and in partnership with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with donors, implementing agencies and partners is desirable