Chief Executive Officers - IITA BIP at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ("IITA") invites applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer of the IITA Business Incubation Platform. IITA is an international non-profit research-for-development (R4D) organization created in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Our R4D is anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. We develop agricultural solutions with our partners to tackle hunger and poverty by reducing producer and consumer risks, enhancing crop quality and productivity, and generating wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa.

We hereby invite applications for the position below:

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer - IITA BIP

Location: Ibadan

Job Description

• IITA BIP aims to develop profitable agribusiness activities that may be replicated by, and absorbed within the private sector after a period for exploring and fine-tuning different production approaches.
• IITA BIP provides incentives and opportunities for the accelerated commercial development of proven and profitable technologies, in particular those developed within IITA or jointly with collaborators, along the entire agricultural value chain.
• IITA BIP currently has four initial start-up businesses at various stages of development, with businesses relating to seed breeding, aflatoxin bio-control, legume inoculant and agri-services consulting.
• IITA is looking for a suitably experienced person to fill the position of full-time Chief Executive Officer of the IITA BIP to manage and coordinate the activities of IITA BIP.. The CEO will be entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing and growing the IITA BIP activities.

Key Responsibilities & Duties
The primary responsibilities for the CEO will include:

• Providing leadership in the development, execution and achievement of IITA BIP's strategic objectives;
• Developing and implementing an operational plan for the IITA BIP, to ensure the IITA BIP business are able to operate within their pre-approved business plans and develop/monitor key financial controls;
• Developing and implementing a marketing and sales strategy to help each of the IITA BIP business improve their cashflow positions;
• Assist with donor fundraising activities; and
• Report to the IITA Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Capacity Development using agreed on plans, budgets, and other key performance indicators to ensure the prudent financial management of the IITA BIP and its start-ups, including the monthly and quarterly progress reporting.

Qualification and Experience

• Minimum university Degree qualified; ideally specialising in Business, Agribusiness or related Agricultural fields, an MBA will be an added advantage.

General Information

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive fringe benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Closing Date
31st July, 2015.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should forward their applications with detailed curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include either the Head of applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior officer at work and evidence of current remuneration package.

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