Project Director at Land O'Lakes International Development

Land O'Lakes International Development is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose vision is to be a global leader in transforming lives by engaging in agriculture and enterprise partnerships that replace poverty with prosperity, and dependency with self-reliance. We leverage Land O’Lakes, Inc.’s near-century of history by engaging in international agriculture and economic development programs, implementing more than 280 programs in 80 countries since 1981.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Director

Ref#: 1060
Location: Kaduna

Project Descriptions

• Land O'Lakes International Development seeks candidates for the Project Director position for the anticipated USAID-funded Nigeria Rural Development, Nutrition, and Responsible Sourcing of Cereals Program to be based full-time in Kaduna, Nigeria. The project will be funded in equal parts by USAID/Nigeria and Nestle. Total funding for this project is expected to be $1.6 million over three years (one base year, plus two option years).
• The project will support broad-based, economic growth in Nigeria by improving the on-farm practices of smallholder farmer suppliers to arrest the growth of mycotoxin both pre-and post-harvest, and design viable drying practices that will reduce detected aflatoxin.
• The project will support smallholder farmer suppliers to meet the increasing demands of Nestlé cereal factories in the region by reducing the high levels of aflatoxin and other contaminates.

Position Summary and Primary Responsibilities

• The Project Director shall be responsible for leading and managing the overall project and liaising closely with USAID/Nigeria, Nestlé, and Land O’Lakes HQ Management as well as senior-level host country government and private sector representatives.
• The main responsibilities involve identifying and forming relationships with Nestle and USAID/Nigeria, coordinating with project stakeholders to draft scopes of work to be filled by experienced US agriculture sector volunteers; hosting and orienting volunteers; and supporting volunteers to have successful assignments with Nestle.
• The Project Director will also coordinate and communicate frequently with the Land O’Lakes project team in the US, especially HQ operations, M&E, practice area managers, and volunteer recruiters.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• 10 years’ professional experience implementing development programming in a developing country context, particularly in Nigeria and Kaduna State, in agronomy and/or agricultural production;
• Proven track record engaging private sector institutions, ideally in a public-private-partnership framework, to improve smallholder agricultural production and post-harvest handling techniques;
• Solid foundation in a broad range of agriculture subjects preferred, including areas such as agriculture economics, agriculture policy, agribusiness, agronomy, agriculture extension, and market development;
• Experience in designing or managing sustainable agricultural production systems;
• Familiarity with nutrition sensitive and climate smart agriculture concepts;
• Familiarity with agriculture research integration in project implementation, and experience working to improve private and public extension systems;
• Strong multi-cultural, inter-personal, and supervision skills;
• Ability to deliver effective presentations and write high quality technical reports;
• Excellent ability to collaborate and coordinate activities with multiple stakeholders, including government, private sector, and individuals;
• A Master's Degree in an appropriate interdisciplinary field relevant to the project such as agronomy, agricultural economics, international development, or related field;
• Proficiency, written and spoken, in English.

Application Closing Date
10th March, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online