Project Director, Agricultural and Rural Livelihoods at PYXERA Global Nigeria

PYXERA Global is a nonprofit organization that envisions a world in which individuals, corporations, organizations, and institutions from different points of view converge to address complex challenges through sustainable, mutually beneficial, and inclusive efforts. For over a quarter-century, PYXERA Global’s Enterprise & Community Development (ECD) programs have collaborated with diverse partners to build resilient and entrepreneurial ecosystems around the world through community-driven solutions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Director, Agricultural and Rural Livelihoods, Rayuwa Project, Nigeria

Location: Zaria, Kaduna
Employment Type: Full-time

Overview

The PYXERA Global is seeking a Project Director to oversee and implement all technical and managerial aspects of the Rayuwa Project in Northern Nigeria.
The project follows a community-driven approach to improve the livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farmers and their communities.
The Project team collaborates with diverse partners on two critical interventions for farmers’ immediate and long-term success: 1) agricultural training to increase food security and farm profitability and 2) youth and adult education for increased equity. Agricultural efforts include increasing agricultural production and farmer resilience; strengthening sources of agricultural income and reducing vulnerability to shock with Village Savings Loan Associations (VSLAs); integrating cross-cutting themes of financial management, market linkages to input, and finance; and facilitating sustainable connections between farmers for increased effectiveness and efficiency. Key education objectives include improving the education levels of the children of farming families; increasing the capacity/capability of community-based educators; and supporting the holistic development of students in character development, literacy, numeracy, and STEM using inclusive pedagogies and digital tools.
The Project Director is responsible for supervising all project activities and managing the project team to meet project objectives and targets. These responsibilities include strategic development and implementation, project implementation, strategizing monitoring and evaluation, financial and operations management, human resources management and organizational development, and communications with internal and external stakeholders.
The successful candidate will exemplify the Project values of teamwork, equality, and a strong work ethic.

Key Position Responsibilities
The Project Director will work with relevant Project team members and report directly to the Vice President of Enterprise and Community Development. The position will have the following responsibilities:

Oversee day-to-day programmatic operations of the Project
Supervise and provide technical guidance and mentorship to the team on program implementation
Lead program design and work plan development with the team in consultation with in-country stakeholders and PYXERA Global staff
Ensure program achievement of high-quality results in accordance with the targets identified in the program’s work plan
Ensure effective tracking of program and activity indicators per the program’s Monitoring & Evaluation Plan to drive work plan design, adjustment, and execution
Supervise and provide technical guidance and mentorship to the project team on program implementation
Develop achievable and detailed scopes of work for staff, consultants, volunteers, etc., and provide regular performance evaluations and feedback
Serve as the primary liaison between the project offices and department leadership and the organization, promoting positive and constructive working relationships
Ensure timely submission of regular programmatic and financial reports to PYXERA Global per donor and partner requirements
Ensure and promote local staff development and progressive management responsibilities in all aspects of program implementation with the overall goal of long-term sustainability of the project’s impact
Serve as the program’s external liaison in Northern Nigeria, establishing and strengthening collaborative relationships with key partners and stakeholders in the region in coordination with PYXERA Global
Ensure compliance with local Nigerian laws and regulations, and adherence to PYXERA Global’s and donor’s legal, financial, and operational policies and procedures
Exhibit and be committed to the Rayuwa values of honesty, transparency, integrity, humility, freedom to innovate, equality, keep a “light” attitude, quality, teamwork, focus on the goals, accountability to all partners, and monitoring to learn and improve
Travel, as required by the project
Other duties, as assigned by PYXERA Global.

Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Agriculture Extension, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Project Management, Sustainable Development, Business Management, or any other relevant field
At least 15 years of technical experience in leading projects for sustainably improving agricultural productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers; improving access to finance, markets, quality inputs, farm technology; overall resilient and sustainable community development. It should also include proven experience working or collaborating with private and public sectors for smallholder agricultural development.
At least 3 years of leadership experience at the ‘director’-level to supervise field staff and associated operational, technical, and strategic responsibilities for effective and efficient implementation of large-scale development projects
Very good knowledge of organizational effectiveness, project management, along with sound knowledge of business and project financial principles
Excellent knowledge of procurement practices in development projects and programs
Demonstrated ability to ensure compliance with local Nigerian laws and regulations and adherence to organizational and donor’s legal, financial and operational policies and procedures
Very strong report writing skill is required
Strong people management skills
Demonstrated ability to multi-task ‘smartly’
Fluency in English and Hausa languages required
Nigerian national required; excellent knowledge of Northern Nigeria is essential
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.