State Team Lead Kaduna

Agrifood DIL and Resource Center is dedicated to empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing essential resources, expert mentorship, and a supportive community. We are  recruiting to fill the position below:

 Job Title: State Team Lead

Locations: Kaduna, Jigawa, Benue or Plateau

Position type: Full-time (Contingent upon Project Award) Background

An international development company is preparing to implement a multi-year agricultural development programme designed to strengthen the ginger and sesame value chains through improved productivity, climate-smart agriculture, enterprise development, market systems strengthening, and last-mile service delivery across selected states in Nigeria. To ensure operational readiness, we are identifying qualified professionals for potential deployment, subject to project award and funding approval. 

Position Summary 

The State Team Lead will provide overall leadership and coordination for programme implementation within the assigned state. The role is responsible for translating programme strategies into high-quality field implementation by coordinating technical teams, managing stakeholder relationships, strengthening private sector engagement, and ensuring programme activities achieve agreed performance target.

Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of all programme activities within the assigned state in line with approved workplans, budgets, and implementation schedules. Develop state implementation plans and ensure programme milestones and performance targets are achieved. Coordinate the work of technical specialists, field officers, consultants, and support teams to ensure integrated programme delivery. Monitor implementation progress, identify operational bottlenecks, and implement practical solutions to improve programme performance. Ensure programme resources are effectively managed to support timely and high-quality implementation. Provide regular implementation updates and strategic advice to programme management on

Build and maintain productive relationships with state government institutions, local authorities, private sector companies, producer organisations, financial institutions, research organisations, and development partners. Facilitate partnerships that strengthen agricultural service delivery, improve access to quality inputs, finance, extension services, aggregation, processing, and markets. Promote collaboration among market actors to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the ginger and sesame value chains. Represent the programme at state-level meetings, technical working groups, stakeholder forums, and coordination platforms. Identify opportunities to strengthen private sector investment and expand commercially sustainable business opportunities within the programme.

Performance  Management and Quality Assurance:

Supervise state implementation teams and ensure activities meet agreed technical, operational, and quality standards. Monitor programme performance against agreed targets and support timely implementation of corrective actions where required. Work closely with the MERL team to ensure timely collection of quality programme data and evidence for reporting and learning. Promote adaptive management by reviewing implementation progress, lessons learned, and stakeholder feedback to improve programme delivery. Support technical teams to ensure interventions remain practical, market-driven, and responsive to beneficiary needs.

Compliance, Risk Management and Reporting:

Ensure compliance with organisational policies, donor requirements, safeguarding standards, financial procedures, and programme operating guidelines. Identify implementation risks and develop appropriate mitigation measures to minimise disruption to programme activities. Review and approve state-level reports, workplans, activity documentation, and implementation updates before submission. Ensure accurate documentation of programme activities, stakeholder engagements, and implementation results. Support donor missions, programme reviews, audits, and monitoring visits by coordinating state-level preparations and documentation.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Project Management, Business Administration, Development Studies, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree will be an added advantage. Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience managing agricultural development, enterprise development, market systems, or donor-funded programmes. Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating multi-stakeholder programmes at state or regional level. Strong understanding of agricultural value chains, private sector engagement, enterprise development, and market systems approaches. Proven experience working with government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, private sector actors, and farmer organisations. Experience managing programme workplans, budgets, implementation schedules, and operational resources. Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and programme reporting tools.

Experience leading multi-state agricultural development programmes. Experience working on donor-funded market systems or private sector development initiatives. Professional certification in Project Management or related disciplines will be an added advantage.

Competitive consultancy package Application Closing Date

15th August, 2026. How to Apply

Click Apply Now button to apply

Or

Send submit an updated Curriculum Vitae highlighting relevant technical and leadership experience and a one-page cover letter to: [Email hidden - Login to reveal] using "State Team Lead – Solicitation Phase Application" as the subject of the email.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.