Seed Operations Specialist

AATF is an international not-for-profit organization facilitating and promoting public/private partnerships to enhance smallholder farmers’ food security and livelihoods in SSA. AATF works with African governments, private and public technology owners and developers, NGOs, seed companies, and African smallholder farmers to identify and access technologies that address farmers’ key problems and empower them through the availability of a choice of agricultural innovations that generate wealth and health for their families and communities. AATF is a registered charity under the laws of England and Wales and has host country status with the Governments of Kenya and Nigeria. The Foundation depends on partners’ and investors’ ongoing support and collaboration to meet its objectives.

AATF wishes to recruit a suitably qualified Seed Operations Specialist to be based in NAERLS Zaria for a period of 2 years, renewable depending on performance and funds availability. Under the matrix supervision of the AATF Product Stewardship Manager and PBR Cowpea Project Manager, the suitable candidate will collaborate closely with seed companies and seed out-growers.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Coordinate, monitor, and track all seed operations to ensure alignment with the agreed work plan and at various seed business operations sites to foster seed operations capacity that ensures predictability and reliability in achieving annual seed production targets.
• Oversee all seed production, processing, storage, and distribution operations and ensure that all players along the seed delivery chain comply with all operational requirements for AATF’s seed business.
• Maintain an up-to-date seed supply and demand inventory, forecast seed demands and supply needs, create seed demands, and enhance seed distribution efficiency across the target seed industry players.
• Coordinate seed producers’ pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest operations to minimize pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest losses.
• Supervise seed storage and warehouse operations at AATF’s licensees’ facility.
• Implement mechanized harvesting and drying of seeds to reduce harvest and post-harvest losses and improve seed quality across seed producers and processors.
• Track, verify, document, and report any incidence related to AATF’s projects output at seed production, processing, storage, and distribution levels. Follow up on all incidents by documenting the incident management actions, root cause analyses (when relevant), communications, and corrective actions. Report each incident related to the project output to the AATF Stewardship Unit.
• Ensure timely engagement and foster transparency and best practices among all relevant stakeholders involved in seed operations.

Competencies

• A good understanding of the agricultural seed business in Nigeria and, indeed, West Africa.
• Ability to coordinate, manage, and inspire a diverse group of skilled professionals to work as a team to deliver the project’s mandate efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Excellent high-level networking skills and ability to build and sustain relationships with key partners, especially high-level policymakers and economic elites interested in the cowpea and maize value chains.
• Demonstrable high-level policy and grassroots advocacy and communication skills.
• Strong and proven media relations skills and ability to use information technology effectively as a tool and resource for strategic communication and advocacy.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to plan and prioritize work activities to meet the project’s goals and objectives.
• Excellent technical report writing and presentation skills.

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in agriculture, management, or related disciplines from a recognized University, or a bachelors with at least 10 years cognate experience in lieu of higher degrees.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience and sound knowledge in field agricultural operations, agricultural research, and development with a reputed private or public sector seed entity, preferably in Africa.
• Sound knowledge and experience in the agricultural seed business.
• Experience in seed production, seed processing, and seed distribution.
• Quality Management Systems in seed production, knowledge of ISO is an advantage.
• Good understanding of the SSA agricultural biotechnology socio-political and policy environments.