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

Save the Slum Initiative is a non-governmental organization with registration CAC/IT/NO 139240, STSI was founded in 2016 and is committed to responding to current needs to improve the life of people living in slums and local communities across Nigeria. STSI envisions improving the living standards of vulnerable persons and communities and our overall aim is to work with urban poor to bring about long-term and sustainable transformation to their quality of life and to also provide better community-based healthcare and empowerment education and environmental improvement to all communities that will serve.

We intervene in various sectors like WASH, Education, Protection, Nutrition, Health, and Livelihood of humanitarian sectors and community development projects. Since its inception in 2016, STSI have implemented in over 16States in Nigeria.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Leader - Regenerative Agriculture & Biodiversity (Senior Research Scientist & Agricultural Development Specialist)

Location: Ifo, Ogun
Employment Type: Contract

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.

Application Closing Date
21st July, 2025.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Or
Send their applications to: hr@savetheslum.org.ng using "Project Leader – Regenerative Agriculture & Biodiversity (Senior Research Scientist & Agricultural Development Specialist)" as the subject of the mail.

Note

• By submitting your Application for this position you agree to STSI ZERO Tolerance to Fraud Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, Abuse and Child Abuse
• Our employees enjoy a work culture that promotes diversity and inclusion.
• Save The Slum Initiative (STSI) provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability or genetics.
• Candidates available to start immediately are highly preferred.
• Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
• This position offers exceptional opportunity to lead groundbreaking agricultural innovation while building lasting impact on biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods across West Africa.