Government Relations Specialist at One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms more productive. We provide quality farm supplies on credit, delivered within walking distance of farmers’ homes, and agricultural trainings to improve harvests. We measure our success by our ability to make farmers more prosperous: On average, farmers harvest 50 percent more food after working with One Acre Fund. We serve more than 800,000 farm families in Eastern and Southern Africa, with more than 7,500 full-time staff, and we aim to serve 1 million farm families by 2020.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nigeria Government Relations Specialist

Location: Minna, Niger
Job type: Full-time job.
Preferred Start Date: As soon as possible.

Job Descriptions

One Acre Fund is a growing organization; increasing the number of clients we serve in each year and the number of countries in which we operate. One Acre Fund is looking for a Government Relations Specialist (GRS) to be based in Minna, who will be the primary contact for the local Ministry of Agriculture and other government officials, traditional leaders and external partners, establishing our program in Nigeria.
You will report to the One Acre Fund’s Government Relations Analyst based in Abuja, and to the Nigeria Country Manager based in Minna. You will demonstrate an understanding of local government structures, have an interest in agriculture, be prepared to travel frequently within Niger State.

Specific responsibilities include:

Engage partners and local government officials of all levels with a view to deepening and broadening One Acre Fund’s State and local government networks in Nigeria.
Create project plans and budgets, and manage concurrent projects
Support the scoping, development and management of program partnerships, with support from manager.
Produce communications materials to engage important contacts and keep them informed of our work, including quarterly reports, briefing notes and official written correspondence.
Provide trainings to One Acre Fund staff on best practices for working with government officials, and other capacity building support.
Track and manage risks and issues from local government affecting field operations.
Track and manage One Acre Fund’s database of important contacts and interactions in Nigeria.
Host important partner events (e.g. field visits) and oversee participation in agricultural shows and other external events. Ensure government protocols are observed at all hosted events.
Assist program expansion through relationship management with relevant authorities in new or targeted areas of operation.
Track and renew licenses and permits required for our operations.
Research policies, regulations, programs and political developments relevant to field operations.
Engage field leadership to remain informed of the latest developments with our program and trials, through:
- Regular attendance at FO/Field Leader Meetings
- Monthly meetings with Field Team and Innovations lead(s)
- Other responsibilities, as assigned.

Qualifications

We are seeking professionals with a minimum of three (3) years work experience, some of which will have been in or working alongside government institutions in Nigeria. You will demonstrate a long-term passion for agricultural development in Nigeria and be familiar with the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Niger State.

Please only apply if you fit these criteria:

Undergraduate degree from a recognized academic institution required. Candidates with graduate studies and degrees will be given additional consideration.
Work experience in government, business or NGO environments, especially work planning and executing on task with minimal oversight.
At least 2 years of experience working in/with government or in community development roles
At least 1-year experience managing government or partner relationships
Knowledge of sub-national Nigerian government and traditional structures is required.
Must be able to produce simple documents (emails, letters, etc.) and independently develop and use basic project tools and budgets
A willingness to commit to living in Minna for a long-term position
Leadership and management experience at work or outside of work
Experience setting and meeting targets
Fluency in English and Hausa required.
Passionate about serving smallholder farmers
Please highlight the following skills if you have them:
Experience working in agriculture or rural development
Experience managing events
Background in dealing with government officials at local and national levels
Experience working with diverse teams, coordinating meetings, and making strategic recommendations
Experience managing people

Remuneration
Compensation:

Determined by experience

Benefits:

Health insurance, paid time off, relocation allowance

Career Growth And Development:

We have a culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Sponsor International Candidates: