Agribusiness Hub Manager (Kano) at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Agribusiness Hub Manager

Job Ref.: IITA-HR-NRS2023-014
Location: Kano
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)

Duties

• Lead all key processes of YAS planning, budget management, project implementation, monitoring, execution, and reporting at the hub level.
• Identify profitable and market-driven agricultural commodities within the state of operation.
• Identify new and existing partners within the state to facilitate activities at the agribusiness hub.
• Coordinate training for the incubator and accelerator components, experiential learning for the incubators, and facilitate agribusiness operations at the hubs.
• Facilitate appropriate Agrihub system development, operation, and expansion at project sites.
• Coordinate the deliverables of the three core services (i.e. Agrihub Coordination, training, and Agribusiness support) at the hubs.
• Support the training coordinator in developing and reviewing training manuals and learning tool kits specific to the state.
• Coordinate beneficiaries’ recruitment, and develop an up-to-date database of all beneficiaries trained at the hub.
• Assist the training coordinator with the identification and screening of additional training sites for training and agribusiness incubation for hub expansion.
• Identify training sites and provide recommendations for upgrades.
• Lead training of trainers (TOT) for identified community-based farmer organizations.
• Support advocacy, community engagement, and knowledge management
• Monitor the key implementation process in the hub to ensure the achievement of Hub objectives.
• Supervise and monitor trained youths alongside the M&E Officer(s).
• Provide timely and accurate reporting of all activities in the approved Annual work plan and budgets on a quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis.
• Set up SOP documents and policies to guide and govern work activities and use of resources (especially for beneficiaries using the hub) together with the Project Coordination office.
• Liaise with IITA and Bopinc to ensure that the training, technical, and enterprise support resources contribute to the hub activities.
• Coordinate and liaise with key stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation of YAS at the state level.
• Act as the principal spokesperson for the project; disseminate its objectives, activities, and achievements and its roles in Youth employment.
• Ensure that the business development process is successful and facilitate when possible linkages to profitable opportunities.
• Ensure that the business development process is successful and facilitate when possible linkages to profitable opportunities.
• Perform any other job-related task as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

• BSc/HND in Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, or any other related field with a minimum of two (2) years’ experience performing a similar role in a wellstructured environment.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must:

• Have good communication skills (writing, reading, and speaking).
• Have ability to use basic Microsoft software (word, excel, PowerPoint).
• Have strong multi-tasking abilities and problem-solving skills.
• Have the ability to work with little or no supervision.
• Have experience in agribusiness incubation and hub management.

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

Application Closing Date
3rd April, 2023.