Alliance Director, Agricultural Competitiveness – Nigeria

Alliance Director, Agricultural Competitiveness – Nigeria

Company Overview

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives.

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.

Project Overview and Role

Palladium is recruiting for the anticipated USAID-funded Nigeria Agriculture Competitiveness project. The goal of the project is to create a catalytic investment mechanism which links smallholder farmers to the private sector and to create a positive business enabling environments for thriving agribusiness sector.

Purpose of Position
Palladium seeks a Director of Trade Policy and Promotion for the USAID-funded Nigeria opportunity in Agriculture Competitiveness.

Duration: 5 years
Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains strong partnerships with private sector organizations, cooperatives, partners, collaborators and financial institutions;
• Facilitates relationships between value chain actors including smallholders, traders, financial institutions, buyers, processors and agribusiness;
• Organizes and facilitates discussions on agribusiness investment-related policy issues involving representatives of the private and public sector, with a view to reach consensus on improved policies;
• Facilitate high level market linkages to add value to specific value chains. This includes cluster creation with value chain actors from the smallholder field to anchor firm level.

Requirements

• Masters degree in crop production, agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics or related field. Knowledge of aquaculture a plus.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience working with USAID or another donor agency.
• Seven years professional work experience in crop production and/or crop protection, or food security, value chain development including facilitation, agribusiness, marketing, and financial services, private sector development, and enabling environment policy reforms.
• Experience in training, provision of technical assistance and public private facilitation among smallholders and value chain actors.
• Previous experience in Nigeria preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills required for working with project staff and beneficiaries
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure with limited guidance
• Excellent communication skills are essential to write effectively and persuasively and be able to present information in a variety of settings and formats
• Fluency in English required
• Experience with gender mainstreaming a plus

Nigerian Nationals Strongly Encouraged to Apply