Agronomist at ReelFruit

ReelFruit, founded in 2012, is the market leader in the healthy snack category, pioneering the introduction of healthy dried fruit as a snack in the Nigerian market. The company was founded on a mission to build a scalable agribusiness to add value to the local fruit value chain, produce, package and distribute locally made snacks that could sit on any shelf in the world!

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Agronomist 

Location: Abeokuta, Ogun
Employment Type: Full-time

Description

• The Agronomist will leverage strong expertise in agriculture, particularly horticulture and fruit farming, to lead the technical setup and operations of ReelFruit’s own farms, improve productivity across partner farms, and manage commitments within the company’s raw material supply network (farmers, traders, and aggregators) both within and outside Nigeria.
• This role combines technical field execution, supplier development, and data-driven advisory, ensuring that ReelFruit’s fruit supply meets quality, sustainability, and commercial standards.

Key Responsibilities
Technical Field & Farm Operations(ReelFruit-owned farms and external partner farmers):

• Stay current with innovative trends and best practices in fruit farming to improve farm productivity and sustainability
• Coordinate and supervise field/extension agents to ensure proper use of tools, pesticides, manure, and disease prevention practices
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor farm activities, identify gaps, and recommend improvements
• Analyze field data to support decision-making, project planning, and problem-solving for farmers
• Review soil and crop samples for nutritional deficiencies, diseases, and abnormalities
• Develop and implement improved planting, cultivation, irrigation, and harvesting techniques
• Prepare training materials and conduct GAP-based training through presentations and farm demonstrations
• Provide technical support across the fresh fruit supply chain, including aggregation and harvesting standards
• Review raw material test results for supplier selection and approval

Commercial Fresh Fruit Mapping & Supplier Onboarding:

• Map fruit production zones to identify and source reliable farmers and aggregators across value chains
• Source and onboard multiple suppliers to secure quality raw materials across peak and off-seasons
• Negotiate supplier contracts to achieve the best price–quality balance
• Ensure supplier onboarding and contracts comply with company SOPs and policies
• Maintain strong relationships with farmers, cooperatives, aggregators, and agro-dealers
• Ensure all activities align with approved budgets, cash forecasts, and financial plans
• Represent the company professionally at all times

Reporting, Evaluation & Advisory:

• Develop budgets and forecasts for farm and field activities
• Maintain accurate records of farmers, field agents, crops, trainings, and samples
• Evaluate supplier performance and growth to support investment and sourcing decisions
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry by field teams to enable real-time reporting
• Generate and present reports to management and key stakeholders
• Monitor field team performance and recommend capacity-building or upskilling where needed
• Recommend the recruitment of extension agents or ad-hoc staff to support farm and farmer engagement activities

Educational Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Extension Management, Crop Science, or a related field
• Master’s Degree is an added advantage
• Minimum of 5–6 years’ experience managing food or fruit crops
• Proficiency in MS Office and relevant agricultural or diagnostic software

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of fruit farming, especially mango, pineapple, coconut, and banana
• Physical fitness and willingness to work extensively in the field
• Excellent people management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong analytical, research, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities
• Proven leadership and team management experience
• Strong negotiation and commercial awareness
• Excellent organizational, time management, and multitasking skills
• High attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work in multicultural environments
• Willingness to travel frequently.

Application Closing Date
20th March, 2026.