Project Leader - Regenerative Agriculture & Biodiversity (Senior Research Scientist & Agricultural Development Specialist) at Save The Slum Initiative

Role Summary

• The Project Leader will provide visionary technical and strategic leadership for a major National Geographic Society-funded initiative focused on regenerative agriculture, pollinator conservation, soil health, and rural livelihoods in Ogun State.
• This transformative role requires a highly experienced scientist and development specialist with a proven record in designing, managing, and scaling complex, multi-stakeholder agricultural projects in West Africa.
• The successful candidate will spearhead the world's first field-scale demonstration of pollinator-soil microbiome synergies across 150 hectares involving 400 smallholder farmers.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Implementation:

• Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of all project activities, ensuring delivery of ambitious biodiversity and livelihood outcomes including 40% increase in pollinator abundance, 25% improvement in soil microbial diversity, and 25% enhancement in farmer incomes
• Supervise and mentor a multidisciplinary team of 10+ professionals including apiary technicians, soil microbiologists, community mobilizers, finance officers, and M&E coordinators
• Coordinate installation of 250 managed beehives, establishment of 5km native flowering hedgerows, and implementation of innovative soil microbial enhancement techniques

Scientific Excellence & Research Leadership:

• Oversee groundbreaking scientific research including field trials, data collection, and publication of results in peer-reviewed journals targeting Journal of Applied Ecology, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, and World Development
• Guide participatory research methodologies ensuring authentic community engagement while maintaining scientific rigor and international publication standards
• Contribute to global scientific discourse on integrated approaches to agricultural biodiversity conservation and sustainable intensification.

Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with local communities, government agencies (Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture), research institutions (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta), and international organizations
• Facilitate authentic community participation ensuring 45% women and 30% youth involvement across all project activities
• Guide participatory research, farmer training through Farmer Field Schools, and knowledge transfer activities reaching 400 smallholder farmers.

Compliance & Quality Assurance:

• Ensure strict compliance with National Geographic Society donor requirements, ethical standards, and quarterly reporting obligations while maintaining transparency and accountability
• Represent the project at national and international conferences including TropAg 2026 (Brisbane) and African Apiculture Forum 2027 (Nairobi), policy forums, and media engagements
• Secure additional funding and support for project sustainability and scaling across Nigeria's 2 million smallholder farming systems.

Required Qualifications

• PhD Degree in Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Science, or related field
• Minimum 10 years' experience in regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, or rural development (15+ years preferred)
• Demonstrated expertise in pollinator ecology, soil microbiome restoration, and participatory research methodologies
• Proven success in leading large-scale, donor-funded projects exceeding $100,000 and securing significant grant funding
• Strong publication record (minimum 5 peer-reviewed papers; 10+ preferred) with focus on agricultural biodiversity and rural development
• Extensive experience working with smallholder farmers and rural communities in West Africa
• Multilingual proficiency: Fluent in English, Yoruba, and French essential for effective stakeholder engagement
• Recognized leadership in the field demonstrated through awards, policy contributions, or international consultancy experience.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Vision & Scientific Rigor: Ability to translate complex research into practical, scalable solutions
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Exceptional skills in community engagement across diverse cultural contexts
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to inspire and develop multidisciplinary teams
• Policy Advocacy & Partnership Building: Experience influencing agricultural policy and building sustainable institutional relationships
• Results-Oriented Project Management: Track record of delivering measurable impact within budget and timeline constraints.